This morning, we join our country honoring friends, neighbors, colleagues, and strangers who selflessly served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally designated to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918. The US legislature modified the holiday to include American Veterans of all wars in 1954 at the urging of veterans service organizations.
Yesterday morning on a local radio program, the host extolled the sacrifices made by our veterans in their services to our country. As he continued, my mind wandered to a recent CCE lesson on the lives of Saints – how they sacrificed their own comfort, and sometimes their lives, for God. In a similar manner, so too have our soldiers given up their own comforts, and sometimes their lives, for our country. For us, that we might enjoy the freedoms we too often take for granted.
On this Veterans Day, please take a minute to discover ways you might give back and show our support to them. Fly the American flag, view a parade or other service, dedicate a Mass, or contact a VFW hall and ask what they need. Last week my family participated in signing Christmas cards for our active servicemen and women in Afghanistan. The individual who put us in touch with this project reported they mailed 77 cases of cards and personal items.
The committee spent nearly three hours in line at the post office window completing six-page Customs forms, and watching the clerk stamp each and every page. As the line grew, others waiting became uncomfortable and tempers began to flare. However, after the organizers explained that the boxes were going to our boys and girls in Afghanistan, attitudes quickly changed, and folks started giving the committee ten dollar bills to help with the postage.
Lisa and I have a short list on the right-hand sidebar of ways you can support our current troops, and please remember to thank retired Veterans for their years of service also.
