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This
day, which began as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday
to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11,
1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the
cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice
Day.'” This new legal holiday honored World War I veterans. In 1954, after
having been through World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress —
at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938
by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With
the approval of this legislation Nov. 11 became a day to honor American
veterans of all wars.
A
day to honor those who have served and now serve in uniform, as well as those
who died in service to this great country.
Thomas
Paine said, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the
fatigue of supporting it.” Many of you here today have born that burden
and experienced the fatigue of waging war in order to bring about peace.
To you I say thank you. Thank you for setting the example that
inspired me and my peers to raise our hands in voluntary service to this great
nation.
That
shared service joins us together like no other bond. The camaraderie we
share in military service helps define us. I can honestly say the time I’ve
spent as a member of the United States Navy is the best of my life, even after
I left the Navy, it will stay with me and define me till the day I die.
I’ve
always thought Veterans’ Day got the short end of the stick, holiday-wise. For
many Americans, there is no official day off work, as there is for the July
Fourth holiday. And many people view Memorial Day as the official day to
pay tribute to service members from the various branches of the armed
forces, who’ve given their lives in service to the nation.
And
yet this day, Veterans’ Day, serves a very important purpose. It is the
day we recognize not just those who have given their lives in war, but all those
who have worn the uniforms of service. This day, above all, is an
opportunity to celebrate the choice one makes to serve their country. For
some, it meant the world wide conflict of WWII, or a lifetime of peacekeeping
missions, or the tense standoff of the cold war. Others, in the jungles
of Vietnam or in Korea, Panama, and other conflicts in which we have asked our
military to serve over the years.
And
of course we can’t forget that today, for many, service means multiple tours to
Iraq and Afghanistan, on active duty or as reservists, and Guard members who
sacrifice twice when they give up their civilian jobs in order to serve our
country.
Roughly
1 percent of our population serves in the military. And as we consider the
impact those individuals have had on the world, defending freedom and
protecting democracy, Winston Churchill once said, “Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
So
today, to honor that debt, I would ask you to take time to honor service
members, past and present, in at least one of several ways.
First,
volunteer to help a veteran or service member, regardless of whether you are a
veteran or not. We have many wounded veterans in our world who need your
compassion and your support. Find a way to help them, whether through
Veterans Affairs offices or state and local government outreach programs.
Given that we as a nation are at war today, there are many families in
communities all over the country who could use a helping hand. For many of
those on deployment, knowing their families are receiving support while they
are serving in the armed forces can bring reassurance and peace of mind.
There are dozens of ways you can show your support to our nation’s heroes.
Second,
make an effort to promote military service for our youth. In a time of
war, volunteers for service are hard to find, but I think promoting military
service goes beyond that—we need to do a better job of letting our younger
generation know that the military is a viable and valuable career option with
unlimited opportunities.
And
finally, if you are a vet, please share your story with others. Let
everyone know what you’ve done so they can see the many faces of military
service and appreciate the personal service of their neighbors. If you
are not a vet: find someone in your life that is a vet and ask them about their
service—or simply say thank you.
The
more we talk about what we do and the impact military service has on our lives,
the better able we are to hold it up as an example of excellence.
We
have many, many examples of courage, service, and sacrifice to reflect on
today. Let’s use this opportunity now, and on Veterans Day in the years
to come, to celebrate service to our nation, to demonstrate the appreciation we
have for our military and to inspire future generations to dedicate themselves
in the name of the many that have come before them.
As
Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
Today, we give thanks to live in a country where citizens from every generation
willingly and courageously raise their hands to stand the watch.
For
all those veterans here today—thank you for your service and your
sacrifice. I share the pride you feel in being able to count yourselves
among that one percent — the greatest military in the world.
For
all those not in the military, thank you for choosing to share this special day
with us and show your support of our heroes, past and present.
Thank
you.
Chris Sajnog United States Navy Seals
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