Veterans Day 2015
11/11/15 05:15
The significance of this day goes back to the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It was at that time back in 1918 when the guns finally fell silent along the Western Front in Europe. The observance of Veteran’s Day is different in different parts of the world. In Europe, specifically in the United Kingdom, Veteran’s Day is a solemn time of remembering all of the war dead. It has a partner observance, Remembrance Sunday, that takes place on the Sunday closest to November 11. Remembrance Sunday is a time for churches and other religious institutions to pause to remember those who have died. The day we call Veteran’s Day is often known as Armistice Day in the UK. Ceremonies include the placing of wreaths in military cemeteries and at war memorials. There is an annual “Silence in the Square” event at Trafalgar Square that features musical performances and readings with two minutes of silence at 11 am. Members of the public are invited to place poppy petals in the fountains in the square.
On this side of the Atlantic our observances include the placing of wreaths, the visiting of war memorials, parades and other events honoring veterans.
Part of the difference in the observances is that it has been a long time since war has taken place in our country. Our involvement in wars since the Civil War has been in foreign locations. Our losses in war since that time have been primarily military losses. In England and throughout Europe there is the memory of the civilian casualties of World War II.
According to the most recent statistics I can find, there are around 1.4 million people serving in the U.S. armed forces. That means 0.4 percent of the American population is active military personnel. Of course former members of the military vastly outnumber current personnel. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 7.3 percent of all living Americans have served in the military at some point in their lives. Of that number most are men. Only about 2 million veterans and about 200,000 current personnel are women. By gender, 1.4 percent of all female Americans have served in the armed services, compared to 13.4 percent of all male Americans.
Those we honor today are a few among us, not the majority. Their experiences are unique and it would be a mistake for those of us who have not served in the military to assume that we can fully understand the events that have shaped their lives. Not all veterans served during time of war and of those who served during war only a percentage were involved in actual combat. There are plenty of logistics and behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done to support an active fighting force. About 5.5 million living U.S. Veterans served between wars, when the U.S. was not involved in any conflict.
However, we are beginning to forget those times. There are still a little over 1,000 U.S. Veterans who served prior to the beginning of World War II. There are others who served between WWII and the Korean Conflict, between the Korea and the Vietnam War and between Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. Still, according to military officials, our nation has been continuously involved in active warfare. The first Gulf War is defined by the VA as having lasted from August 1990 to September 2001 and the second Gulf War is from September 2001 to the present. That’s a quarter of a century of continuous conflict.
What we know is that war changes the lives of all who are affected by it forever. Once a person has experienced war there is no going back to the life that was prior to those events. Because of the way history has played out at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, younger veterans are more likely to have experienced combat than older ones.
Of course there are many other avenues of public service than just military service. I am honored to frequently work alongside people who have dedicated their lives to serving others through service in government, through service in nonprofit organizations, and through service in the church. Veterans are not the only ones who have given a portion of their lives for others.
Still, today is a day to honor veterans. But it is also a day to remember the much higher costs of war. The tragic loss of the lives of young and dedicate soldiers is worthy of our remembrance, but so too is the loss of the lives of innocents who are caught up in the crossfire of conflict. When nations result to war as a means of resolving conflict, the price paid is incredibly high and the highest cost has nothing to do with financial resources - it is the cost of the lives. Those who die are not the only victims of war. Some emerge with physical disabilities that are visible and constant reminders of the costs of war. Others emerge with less visible disabilities. As we learn mora about the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders and other mental and emotional costs of war, we are reminded of the depth of sacrifice that has been devoted to the causes of our nation.
While it makes sense to recognize this day by wearing poppies and by thanking veterans for their service, it also makes sense to include in our observances times of silence for remembrance and contemplation. There is much about our history that is beyond the capacity of words to express. Sometimes silence is the most effective way to commemorate events of awesome magnitude.
As I reflect quietly today, I will try to remember the moment when the guns silenced at the end of World War I, the sense of relief that those actively engaged must have felt, and the glimmer of hope that remained after the years of blood and devastation.
May we never forget that silence.
On this side of the Atlantic our observances include the placing of wreaths, the visiting of war memorials, parades and other events honoring veterans.
Part of the difference in the observances is that it has been a long time since war has taken place in our country. Our involvement in wars since the Civil War has been in foreign locations. Our losses in war since that time have been primarily military losses. In England and throughout Europe there is the memory of the civilian casualties of World War II.
According to the most recent statistics I can find, there are around 1.4 million people serving in the U.S. armed forces. That means 0.4 percent of the American population is active military personnel. Of course former members of the military vastly outnumber current personnel. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 7.3 percent of all living Americans have served in the military at some point in their lives. Of that number most are men. Only about 2 million veterans and about 200,000 current personnel are women. By gender, 1.4 percent of all female Americans have served in the armed services, compared to 13.4 percent of all male Americans.
Those we honor today are a few among us, not the majority. Their experiences are unique and it would be a mistake for those of us who have not served in the military to assume that we can fully understand the events that have shaped their lives. Not all veterans served during time of war and of those who served during war only a percentage were involved in actual combat. There are plenty of logistics and behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done to support an active fighting force. About 5.5 million living U.S. Veterans served between wars, when the U.S. was not involved in any conflict.
However, we are beginning to forget those times. There are still a little over 1,000 U.S. Veterans who served prior to the beginning of World War II. There are others who served between WWII and the Korean Conflict, between the Korea and the Vietnam War and between Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. Still, according to military officials, our nation has been continuously involved in active warfare. The first Gulf War is defined by the VA as having lasted from August 1990 to September 2001 and the second Gulf War is from September 2001 to the present. That’s a quarter of a century of continuous conflict.
What we know is that war changes the lives of all who are affected by it forever. Once a person has experienced war there is no going back to the life that was prior to those events. Because of the way history has played out at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, younger veterans are more likely to have experienced combat than older ones.
Of course there are many other avenues of public service than just military service. I am honored to frequently work alongside people who have dedicated their lives to serving others through service in government, through service in nonprofit organizations, and through service in the church. Veterans are not the only ones who have given a portion of their lives for others.
Still, today is a day to honor veterans. But it is also a day to remember the much higher costs of war. The tragic loss of the lives of young and dedicate soldiers is worthy of our remembrance, but so too is the loss of the lives of innocents who are caught up in the crossfire of conflict. When nations result to war as a means of resolving conflict, the price paid is incredibly high and the highest cost has nothing to do with financial resources - it is the cost of the lives. Those who die are not the only victims of war. Some emerge with physical disabilities that are visible and constant reminders of the costs of war. Others emerge with less visible disabilities. As we learn mora about the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders and other mental and emotional costs of war, we are reminded of the depth of sacrifice that has been devoted to the causes of our nation.
While it makes sense to recognize this day by wearing poppies and by thanking veterans for their service, it also makes sense to include in our observances times of silence for remembrance and contemplation. There is much about our history that is beyond the capacity of words to express. Sometimes silence is the most effective way to commemorate events of awesome magnitude.
As I reflect quietly today, I will try to remember the moment when the guns silenced at the end of World War I, the sense of relief that those actively engaged must have felt, and the glimmer of hope that remained after the years of blood and devastation.
May we never forget that silence.