“The soldier, above all others, prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas MacArthur

Happy Monday!

Today is Veterans Day in the USA. It’s a special day to remember the acts of heroism and patriotism modeled by our men and women who serve or have served in the armed forces. It’s a day when we honor both those who lost their lives and those who are still with us.

Here are some fun facts about the day:

  • It’s not the same as Memorial Day, which occurs in May and honors service members who have lost their lives.
  • November 11th is always Veterans Day, regardless of the day of the week, and it is a federal holiday.
  • President Eisenhower changed the name from Armistice Day in 1954.
  • Due to the many combined efforts during WWI, other countries celebrate similar holidays around this time.
  • Each year, at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia holds events and places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  • There’s no apostrophe; it’s Veterans Day.
  • All veterans are honored, regardless of the branch in which they served.

This quote from General MacArthur is a poignant reminder of the mental toll and scars our veterans continue to heal from throughout their lives:

Photo by Benjamin Faust. No copyright infringement intended.

Those of us who haven’t had to train day and night to prepare for any eventuality, haven’t had to say goodbye to loved ones, haven’t faced the battlefield, or haven’t had to return home with images from the ravages of war can’t imagine the pain. At best, we offer our compassion and gratitude for their sacrifices and honor them in the ways we can. It will never be enough, but hopefully, those in our lives and with whom we interact will learn of our appreciation, at least on this day.

There’s a passage in Scripture that Paul wrote to the Philippines. I think it’s a lovely prayer to offer for our veterans:

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippines 1:3-11 31 (NKJV)

And, if you’re feeling like you want to do a little something extra this year, here are some ideas:

  • After the parade and fanfare, visit your local VFW or American Legion Hall to meet with the veterans.
  • Volunteer to maintain gravesites of deceased vets.
  • Get involved with an organization that supports vets’ ongoing needs, such as Operation Gratitude.
  • If you’re dining out and notice a vet, contribute to a meal or invite someone eating alone to join you.

Let’s express our gratitude to those who have done so much to keep us and the land we love safe!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda