Veterans Day is a special and important holiday that celebrates our brave veterans, but many people still don’t know what it is or why it is celebrated. It is a day dedicated to honoring and thanking all the brave men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. Whether they served in times of peace or times of war, in the army, the navy, or any of the other branches, each veteran has contributed to the safety and strength of our great nation.
The origins of the holiday go back to the end of World War I. On November 11, 1918, the fighting came to an end with the signing of an armistice. Originally, this day was known as Armistice Day, and was meant to honor the soldiers who fought in that war; However, after WWII and the Korean War, President Eisenhower realized that the holiday should honor all veterans, not just those from WWI. In 1954, the name was officially changed to Veterans Day to recognize and honor veterans from all wars and conflicts.
In honor of the holiday, WCHS’s own Mr. LaRue has answered some questions about the holiday. “Veterans Day to me is the day after a much more important holiday, the Marine Corps Birthday. On the Marine Corps birthday, my family and I share a wonderful meal, and all my friends from the Marine Corps text or call. It is a day to remember the honor of being a Marine. I served in the United States Marine Corps. I earned the rank of Sergeant. My initial MOS was Crash, Fire, and Rescue. I deployed to Iraq as a member of an Incident Response Team with focused operations in Al Anbar. I was selected for the Embassy Guard Program and served the Department of State at the American Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria and the American Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The proudest professional moment of my life was earning a Combat Meritorious Promotion to Corporal in Iraq. It was during the mission briefing that my commanding officer called me up before my platoon and presented the promotion.” Veterans Day is a vastly overlooked holiday, but also a very important one. We need to remember our veterans and celebrate them. Happy Veterans Day from the WCHS Jacket Journal.
