On Saturday, when I ran into Walmart to pick up some socks, a man in a VFW hat greeted me at the entrance. “Hello there,” said the Veteran of Foreign Wars. I was in a hurry, but something about his age, the pins on his hat, and the way he smiled reminded me of my Dad. I stopped.
My dad passed away in April. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a proud wearer of baseball hats with pins that memorialized the things he loved: Civil War battle sites, the University of Virginia, and being an army vet.
I pulled out my wallet and put a bill in the VFW collection basket. The volunteer offered me a plastic red poppy, but I declined. I didn’t need a token reminder. My donation honored my dad, and giving it gave me a smile, and I won’t lie, and a few tears.
At church the next day, Terry, the pastor’s wife, spoke to the children about Veteran’s Day. She told them about the history of Veteran’s Day and why we celebrate it. Then she offered each of them a tiny green soldier to take home to remind them to pray. I almost took a soldier, but I have enough things of Dad’s in my house these days to remind me of him and to pray for vets.
What I didn’t have enough of was knowledge about the history of Veteran’s Day. Thank you, Terry, for the inspiration. And you too, Dad. Sorry I didn’t do this sooner.
The history of Veteran’s Day
According to History.com, Veteran’s Day started as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, one year after the end of WWI. (For you Word Nerds, armistice comes from the Latin arma meaning weapons + the Latin sistere to come to a stand.) The name Armistice Day referred to the agreement between the Allied Powers and Germany to end the fighting of the first World War on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution to make it a yearly observance, and in 1938, it became a national holiday. In 1956, the name officially changed to Veteran’s Day.
On Veteran’s Day, we celebrate all veterans, living or dead, but especially living vets who served our country. Interestingly, Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate Veterans of WWI and II near November 11. In some countries, it’s called “Remembrance Day.”
According to History.com , there were 19 million living veterans in April of 2021. And Virginia, my home state, is one of the top three states with the highest percentage of veterans. Considering how many vets live near the national capital and in the Hampton Roads area, I’m not surprised.
Thank a vet!
My father in law is also a vet who served in the Vietnam War. His stories are so different from what you typically hear about Vietnam. He was a civil engineer in the navy, and he went into Vietnam later in the war to supervise the rebuilding of areas for the native people. He talks about what a beautiful country it is and how much the people appreciated what he and his men were doing. Perhaps I should ask for more stories this Thanksgiving. And thank him for his service.
Thank you to all veterans. It is no small job you’ve done for us, and you don’t get enough credit.
Do you know a veteran? Ask them for a story and thank them for their service this week.
Wow! I didn’t realize it was 85 years old! I looked it up, and apparently the first celebration was in Alabama — so far from all the vets in Virginia!