We salute our veterans today

In 1968, the federal government approved the Uniform Holiday Act, which was designed to provide three-day weekends for government workers in conjunction with four holidays: George Washington’s birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site (va.gov), “The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.” The reason is Nov. 11 was not selected as Veterans Day for an arbitrary reason. Veterans Day got its start as Armistice Day, which marked Nov. 11, 1918, the end of hostilities in World War I. President Woodrow Wilson, in proclaiming the first Armistice Day in 1919, said: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”

In 1954, “Armistice” was replaced with “Veterans” to acknowledge contributions of all members of the military, not just those who fought in World War I. Still, Nov. 11 — the end of “the war to end all wars” — holds great significance for our nation and its fighting men and women. Veterans Day is not about a weekend of leisure for those who enjoy our nation’s freedoms but may not have fought to protect them. It is a day for us to salute and give thanks to those who put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of the United States and all that it stands for.

In 1978, Veterans Day was returned to its rightful place on Nov. 11, so it could stand not as an appendix for a three-day weekend, but as it was intended — a day to acknowledge a military milestone and the stalwart men and women who have served our nation and all who call it home.

Indiana-born journalist Elmer Davis is credited with saying, “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” We could not agree more.

We stand at a time when our military is fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan. We look forward to the day when those troops will be home to receive the Veterans Day tributes they so richly deserve, alongside their brothers and sisters who fought in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia and Kosovo, the first Gulf War and all other conflicts involving U.S. military personnel.

Today and every day, we offer our humble and sincere thanks to all veterans and active military personnel for their commitment and service.