Nation stands on veterans' shoulders

  • Published
  • By Col. Richard Klumpp, Jr.
  • 71st Flying Training Wing
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  "Here rests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to God."
-- Inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, bells will toll around this great country in honor of those who have served us in our time of greatest need. Veterans Day began in 1919 as Armistice Day, a day to honor those who fought and won the War to End all Wars, World War I -- a war which ended with the signing of a truce on November 11, 1918. Armistice Day became an official holiday in 1938 and, in 1954, Congress officially changed the name to Veterans Day. President Dwight Eisenhower called on all Americans to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of those who fought so gallantly in the cause of freedom and by rededicating themselves to the cause of an enduring peace.

And so on November 11th we remember those who have come before us, upon whose shoulders our nation stands and to whom we owe our greatest gift -- our freedom. Since the first shots were fired on Lexington Common in 1775, we have defended our right, and that of our allies, to remain free in the face of difficult foes buoyed by bankrupt ideologies like fascism, Nazism and communism. These gallant warriors deserve our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made in the cause of liberty.

We who serve in today's military enjoy a level of public support not seen since the days of World War II. Our nation has learned from the dark days of Vietnam that the men and women of our Armed Forces deserve the unqualified support of our nation's citizens, regardless of their position on the conflict we are in. Our brothers and sisters who gave their all in Vietnam also deserved that support, and to them, in particular, I want to say "Welcome home" and thank you for all you did for our nation.

Today, we face a determined foe which employs a tactic as senseless and indiscriminate as we have ever seen -- terrorism on a mass scale. It is a fight we must win, so that our citizens can go about their daily lives in security and safety. I want to thank each and every one of the members of Team Vance for the sacrifices you are making each day to keep our nation free...you are our future and someday in the years ahead, military leaders will look back on your service and tell how our great nation is now standing on your shoulders.