It was in 1954 that then President Dwight D. Eisenhower, himself a military veteran, signed a bill designating November 11 of each year to be celebrated as Veterans Day. Putting the weight of his office behind the project, the annual celebration of Veterans Day has took on a significance that continues until this day.
Veterans Day is a day to honor all veterans. Unlike Memorial Day, this is a day to honor living veterans for their service to God and country through military service. President Obama continues the legacy of honoring our nation’s veterans. He is doing so in word and in substance.
While it is important to pause and give verbal thanks to and for our nation’s veterans, it is also important to acknowledge the continuing sacrifices that many of our veterans are making in areas such as housing, jobs, health, and family support. As a retired military chaplain, and as a pastor and community worker, I have personally observed the plight of many of our nation’s veterans. Finding ways to support our veterans as they seek to continue living their lives as meaningful and productive citizens is very important for our national community.
I am thankful for the work that this presidential administration is doing to find ways to support our nation’s veterans and their families. Keeping faith with our veterans is of vital importance for our society as a whole. It is our prayer that we will continue to support our nation’s leadership in finding ways to better serve the needs those who served our nation so honorably in times of war and peace.