Veterans Day Message

For the past 6 years I have had the Honor of submitting an article to our local papers on Memorial Day and also again on Veterans Day, I would like to share this years article with you:
This Veterans day, which In November of 1919 President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed Armistice Day, started as a celebration of the peace that followed the conflict of World War 1. In the following years, it became Veterans’ Day, a day to honor those who have served and now serve in uniform, as well as those who died in service to their country.

In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day to honor all men and women who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, during peacetime and war. Veterans Day honors living veterans for their sacrifice and service in protecting the freedoms and principles on which this country was founded. This year and every year it is important for all of us to remember and honor all past and current veterans by showing our support for them.

Veterans Day is about those men and women who have served in the Armed Forces, It's about their sacrifices, heroism, and unselfish dedication to their country, families and to you and I. It is about their willingness to lay down their lives for the ideals on which this country was founded. It's about the lines of white crosses and rows of simple bronze markers in cemeteries scattered throughout our country and also here in Carthage and the surrounding areas, marking the graves of brave men and women. It is about the graves on foreign shores where so many died in the name of freedom, but were never able to come home. For them "Our Freedom" was not free.

Veterans Day is a day where every one of us needs to thank those who served this great nation, both the living and those who have passed on. Those of us who served will never forget them. We as veterans need each other, but, more importantly, our country needs our veterans. Not all veterans have seen war, but a common bond that they share is an oath in which they expressed their willingness to die defending this nation.

But how do you thank a Veteran ? When you ask young men and women and their families to endure great hardships, drastically change their lifestyles and possibly give their lives for you and me the words “thank you,” seem insufficient. The true appreciation to Veterans is expressed through deeds and words. Veterans day, is an opportunity to thank those who made the choice to serve their country. For some, it meant WWI , WWII, or conflicts or peacekeeping missions, or the cold war. Others found themselves in the jungles of Vietnam or in Korea , Panama , and other conflicts and of course we can’t forget that today, for many of our own local Fort Drum 10th Mountain Division men and women it means multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan or where ever they are called upon to go.

So on Veterans Day, to honor that debt we owe, I would ask you to take time to honor service members, past and present, attend a Veterans Day service in your hometown, say a prayer for those in harms way, fly your flag, walk up to that man or woman in Uniform and say "Thank You" . For all veterans, thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

Gary B. Wood
Carthage American Legion/Public Relations Officer