Ronald Reagan once said, “Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.”
John F. Kennedy stated, “The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.”
Both President Kennedy (Democrat) and President Reagan (Republican) were patriots and servants to their country. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, this is our home – America.
This past election cycle, I saw commercials where it said if I voted for one candidate I was voting against veterans or soldiers. What an awful statement! These men and women who serve - who fight - they fight for us all. They do not aim their weapons at the enemy and think “Hmm…I wonder if this will help Republicans or Democrats?” They stand their ground and think “I do this for the soldier by my side, I do this for my country, and I do this for my fellow Americans.”
I pray our hearts focus on our soldiers for who they are and what they do. Let us never focus on how they give us some political advantage. Their blood was not shed for Republicans or Democrats…but for Americans. They are American veterans - they are heroes for us all.
Missourians’ recent approval of property tax exemptions for nonprofit veterans’ organizations was a timely tribute, with all Americans celebrating Veterans Day this past November 11. Veterans Day offers us the opportunity to honor the 25 million veterans who have served and who continue to serve the United States. By recognizing all those who serve to protect our freedoms, we can better understand what it truly means to be an American.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, in celebration and remembrance of the truce that ended World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. In the year following the armistice, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation, and Congress made it an official national holiday in 1938.
After World War II ended in 1945, several communities in the United States renamed the holiday Veterans Day to honor all veterans who had fought in American wars. On May 24, 1954, Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower followed suit and officially changed the name to Veterans Day. Although Congress attempted to change the date of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, due to the historical significance of Nov. 11 and Americans’ attachment to that day, Veterans Day was reverted to the original date in 1978.
Official national ceremonies for Veterans Day take place at Arlington National Cemetery, our country’s most historic military cemetery. The cemetery is located in Arlington, Va., just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Ceremonies take place at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which represents the brave missing and unknown service members of four different American wars — World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
This past week, as we celebrated Veterans Day, our community tipped our caps and bowed our heads in appreciation of the sacrifices American veterans have made and continue to make. With American heroes currently overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should be especially grateful of our veterans’ sacrifices. Without their efforts, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we have as citizens of this great nation.
May we never forget the sacrifice they make…for they are neither Democrats nor Republicans in their service or on the field of battle…but they are our brothers and sisters…they are Americans! May we remember their work and remember the charge of President Dwight Eisenhower…“I see that old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.”
To our veterans…I say thank you…may we as a nation hoist the colors you defended and never let them fall!
