by Hunter Renn
The word “war,” to me, means the War on Terrorism in the Middle East. I think of dictatorships, oil and suffering. I think of the death of Osama Bin Laden, and that painful sting of 9/11—the day my, and most other American citizen’s realties, was shattered. But most importantly, I think of the veterans—veterans of all of the wars that America has experienced.
The word “war,” to me, means the War on Terrorism in the Middle East. I think of dictatorships, oil and suffering. I think of the death of Osama Bin Laden, and that painful sting of 9/11—the day my, and most other American citizen’s realties, was shattered. But most importantly, I think of the veterans—veterans of all of the wars that America has experienced.
I think of all the liberties that I may take for granted, that veterans have worked for. I think of their sacrifices, commitment and love for their country. I think of the fact that I, a regular American civilian, will never truly understand what they went through, the hardships they endured, while fighting for my freedom. I think of the individuals currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and their endless devotion and hard work.
This Wednesday November 11th is the annual national holiday of Veterans Day. Veterans Day has been recognized since 1919, envisioned by former President Wilson as a day to reflect on the “solemn pride and heroism of those who died in the country’s service.” Eventually former President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the first “Veterans Day Proclamation,” leading to the formation of what is now the celebrated holiday.
Veterans Day has great patriotic and historical significance that families and veterans commemorate annually. Veterans Day, to me, fills my heart with a warm remembrance. It replaces those feelings of fear and darkness that are typically associated with war, with feelings of pride and patriotism. It is not just a holiday, it is a celebration of strength, resilience and freedom.
To learn more about the history of this holiday check out the links below:
Haerens, Margaret. Veterans. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print.
Call number: 362 V641 2011
Edelman, Bernard. Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. New York: Pocket Books, 1986. Print.
Call number: 959.70438 D347
Crow, Tracy. Red, White, And True : Stories From Veterans And Families, World War II To Present. Dulles: Potomac Books Inc, 2014.eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Mettler, Suzanne, and Stephen R. Ortiz. Veterans' Policies, Veterans' Politics : New Perspectives On Veterans In The Modern United States. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"By The Numbers." Workforce 94.11 (2015): 11. Small Business Reference Center. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
This Wednesday November 11th is the annual national holiday of Veterans Day. Veterans Day has been recognized since 1919, envisioned by former President Wilson as a day to reflect on the “solemn pride and heroism of those who died in the country’s service.” Eventually former President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the first “Veterans Day Proclamation,” leading to the formation of what is now the celebrated holiday.
Veterans Day has great patriotic and historical significance that families and veterans commemorate annually. Veterans Day, to me, fills my heart with a warm remembrance. It replaces those feelings of fear and darkness that are typically associated with war, with feelings of pride and patriotism. It is not just a holiday, it is a celebration of strength, resilience and freedom.
To learn more about the history of this holiday check out the links below:
Haerens, Margaret. Veterans. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print.
Call number: 362 V641 2011
Edelman, Bernard. Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. New York: Pocket Books, 1986. Print.
Call number: 959.70438 D347
Crow, Tracy. Red, White, And True : Stories From Veterans And Families, World War II To Present. Dulles: Potomac Books Inc, 2014.eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Mettler, Suzanne, and Stephen R. Ortiz. Veterans' Policies, Veterans' Politics : New Perspectives On Veterans In The Modern United States. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2012. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"By The Numbers." Workforce 94.11 (2015): 11. Small Business Reference Center. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
RSS Feed