Friday, November 11, 2022, is the official Veteran’s Day 2022. The theme this year is “honor.” I thought it would be thoughtful to gather some ideas on how the ordinary person can show their respect and gratitude for our former servicemen and women.
Veterans are proud to have served their nation, and while in service, they often develop relationships that last a lifetime. Veterans Day is a celebration to honor all of America’s veterans for their love of country, patriotism, willingness to serve, and sacrifice for the common good. We celebrate them for their selfless duty to protect the United States and others in lands across the globe.
Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative poster selected from artwork submitted by artists nationwide. The winning poster is shared across the country in a distinct honor of the military men and women for their duty to serve to protect our way of life and the Constitution of the United States. See the 2022 winning poster below.
The Veterans Day National Celebration is held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Here are a couple of facts about the cemetery:
- 400,000 people are buried there.
- The cemetery was established during the Civil War.
- There are about thirty funerals conducted during the week and seven on Saturday.
The most common way to show your respect on Veterans Day is to pause for two minutes of silence to honor all of America’s veterans for their service and sacrifice. The normal time for this observance is 2:11 p.m. Eastern time.
Each of us needs to take a moment and reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day to us and for our country. These service men and women put their lives on hold and on the line to defend and protect our country as well as other countries we call our Allies.
Perseverance is a significant trait of these hard-working individuals. As my ancestors came over on the Mayflower all those years ago, my family has had someone serving in every war.
Veterans Day is both a State and National holiday. No mail is delivered on this special day.
Several opportunities for volunteers who are interested in supporting the veterans are:
- Hang a flag.
- Make a donation. This link answers frequently asked questions about the process.
- Decorate graves.
- Make a care package for active service members to be sent overseas.
- Plan a fundraising event to donate proceeds to a local nonprofit organization that benefits veterans.
- Yard work or help around the house – ask a local veterans organization if they have any veterans who need assistance, gather a group, and head over.
Quotes for Veterans Day:
- “Fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor.” - Michael N. Castle
- “The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” - George S. Patton Jr.
- “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
- “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” - Bob Dylan
- “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” - Joseph Campbell
A special thank you to all the active military personnel and veterans for your service to ensure our freedom. May God bless you and keep you safe.
All my best,
Julie
Thank you for your nod to our veterans and their service.
As a veteran myself, I’ve seen great improvement in the public’s treatment of veterans since the Viet Nam ware era, when we were often despised for our service. Now I often receive a “Thank you for your service” recognition from members of the general public, which I appreciate.