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Veterans Day is a time for celebration

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At 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns fell silent, marking the end of the Great War in Europe. The day is remembered as Armistice Day as proclaimed by President Wilson in 1919. 

For years, Americans commemorated Nov. 11, and in 1938, Armistice Day became a national holiday by an act of Congress. After World War II and Korea, national veterans organizations urged Congress to change the name to Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all wars and conflicts. President Eisenhower signed that into law in 1954.

 Veterans Day fell to the folly of Congress with the advent of the Uniform Holidays Act of 1968. The observance of many holidays was moved to Monday or Friday to create a three-day weekend. This caused an uproar with America’s veterans, and in 1975, President Ford moved the observance back to Nov. 11, where it belongs. 

What does Veterans Day mean? Sure, it is a day to fly the flag, perhaps a day off to attend a parade, but is that all? For veterans, and families of veterans, especially of those veterans who did not come home, it means a lot more. Veterans Day is not a sad day, like Memorial Day.

It is a day to honor those men and women who served their country. A day for veterans to celebrate their own service. A day to be honored by our fellow countrymen and women for signing that blank check to Uncle Sam. A day to quaff a few root beers with our buddies at the American Legion Hall.

I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 to 1970. I was severely injured in a vehicle accident in 1967 and was medically retired in 1970. I never went to Vietnam like so many of my brothers and sisters. I was in the hospital at Camp Pendleton for 63 days and was horrified at the wounds many Marines and sailors suffered.

War is a terrible event and destroys the lives of many involved both soldiers and civilians. I believe serving my country is an honor, one that stays with you forever. Marines are especially passionate about that: “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

I retired and moved to Arizona in 2008. One of the first veterans I met was Ed Foerster, a World War II Marine. Ed came up to me in a grocery store when he noticed I was wearing a Marine hat. Next thing I knew I was a member of American Legion Post 96. It wasn’t long before I was involved with nine such organizations supporting veterans and their families.

I find it extremely rewarding to be a part of these organizations whose purpose is to serve veterans and their families. I put a lot of volunteer time in serving as an officer in all these organizations.

Veterans Day reminds me of how much we need to keep our veterans in our thoughts and minds. The mental and physical wounds of war never go away. The number of veterans committing suicide is appalling. Veterans Day should remind all of us that these brave men and woman were there when we needed them. It is our turn to be there when they need us. 

Honor our veterans on this special day and every day. The World War II veterans are almost gone; the Vietnam veterans are going fast.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Van de Langeryt is a member of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame — Class of 2018.