Veterans' Day: Honoring America's Heroes In Wisconsin

November 11th, Veterans' Day, is coming up. An armistice to end the war (WWI) that was to end all wars was signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. To those Americans celebrating peace 99 years ago, this first veterans' day was a life-changing joy. One year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th to be forever remembered as Armistice Day. In 1938, Armistice Day became a national holiday.
However, WWI did not end all wars. In 1954, as the world staggered back to sanity following WWII, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed November 11th Veterans' Day in honor of ALL people who had served and given their lives in the protection of the United States of America.
Today however, November 11th seems only a holiday for post office workers. Businesses remain open; kids go to school. Have we really forgotten the importance of honoring our military? Perhaps the numerous wars that followed "The Great War" jaded us into no longer trusting that peace can last. If this is true, then honoring our veterans seems ever more important. Showing respect for those who served and caring for those now serving recognizes that we human beings will always require brave men and women to protect our homes and families.
I write this post because I was touched by the conscientious effort a Wisconsin woman took to commemorate the patriotic contribution of Wisconsin veterans. I, like probably most civilian Americans, hadn't thought much about giving patriotic gifts. But this woman called me at Wisconsinmade.com and wanted help in finding gift baskets she could give out at a Wisconsin veterans' function. She wanted the baskets to show patriotic spirit and hold foods symbolic of Wisconsin. Together we selected the American Flag gift basket. I arranged with the artisan who creates the baskets to deliver them to the Milwaukee hotel where the celebration would be held. The woman called to thank me later.
Since then I have helped parents select gifts to carry their love to their children serving overseas. I have my own children and imagining them in combat is chilling. I admire these respectful parents and the supportive spouses who go out of their way to show their loved ones overseas how much they care.
With the Iraq war winding down and the Afghan war heating up, lasting peace seems far away. But celebrating Armistice Day is a way all Americans can renew a fragile faith that peace is possible. And the best way to celebrate is to actively honor our veterans. We don't really have to have a day off work to say thanks.