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In 1918, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the battlefields of Europe fell silent after more than 4 years of fierce and intense fighting. It wasn’t until after World War II and the Korean War that Congress officially renamed “Armistice Day” as Veterans Day. It’s a day to honor all those who’ve served in the U.S. Armed Forces and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
On behalf of all of us here at Gaslampball.com, thank you to all the brave men and women (my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Arms) from all walks of life who have served our great Nation throughout our history. Whether you served in the U.S. or overseas, in wartime or in peace whether you served proudly in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, thank you for everything. Also, a big thank you to the families, whose sacrifice daily at home to keep everything going . As one of those Veterans, who is still actively serving, every “Thank you” means a lot (though if you were buy me a beer as part of that thank you, I wouldn’t turn it down; just saying).
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With that said, I do ask a small favor: let’s not forget our obligations as citizens. You don’t have to join one of the Armed Services to actively defend our way of life. We can protect our freedom simply by maintaining it here in America. What does that mean? It means going out and doing something, and not just waving the flag for a day. Go out and vote in an election, speak out against injustices. Volunteer in your community, whereever you are, or teach a kid what it really means to be an American.
Simply put, Veterans’ Day isn’t just a day for Vets - it’s a day for all Americans. It’s a day to remember what our Armed Forces fight for, and a day for all of us to continue to protect our freedoms, and the freedoms of future generations.
Even in today’s partisan times, I think we can all agree to that. Again, thank you to all of our Vets out there, thank you for your support, and enjoy the holiday responsibly.
