Veterans’ Day – A Civics Lesson for Us All..

Veterans Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed annually on November 11th to honor military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces¹². Originally known as Armistice Day, it commemorates the end of World War I, which occurred at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918¹. The holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all veterans, not just those who served in World War I².

Hopefully, you will indulge me for just a moment while I interject a few personal anecdotal stories about my family’s military roots before explaining what so many of our young people (and even some of the older folks) have either forgotten or were not taught in school over the last few decades, which is why it is so important to remember our country’s history and those who gave their lives and limbs for the freedoms that we still enjoy today.

I come from a family of veterans going all the way back to the American Revolutionary War, when my 5th great-grandmother, Margaret Strozier, who was awarded the “Patriot” award by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), being upset with the British government’s incursion into Georgia, equipped only with the clothes and equipment she could put on a pack mule, left in protest with her children and walked all the way from her native land in Savannah, Georgia to Kings Mountain, South Carolina, where she assisted in the successful defense of the British during the battle of Kings Mountain.

Since then, my ancestors have served our country faithfully and patriotically when called upon by their country. My grandfather, my father and his brothers, my brother and I have all collectively served in World War I, World War II, Korea and in Vietnam. My father enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 15 and began flying as a crew member on PBY aircraft during World War II. When the Navy discovered that he was underaged, they released him from the Navy. He turned around and joined the Army and went on to serve in World War II and Korea. He retired after 30 years of military service.

I was extremely fortunate during my military career (I enlisted twice). I landed some very lucrative positions which were not normally afforded to most soldiers. During my first stint I became a crew chief and a door gunner on Huey helicopters. Upon my return from Vietnam, I spent the last year and a half of my first enlistment traveling around America playing top 40 and country music in a 5 member  band playing venues like state and county Fairs, rodeos, coliseums, veterans homes and more, as part of the effort being made at that time to enlist young men into the new Volunteer Army!

During my 2nd five-year stint in the Army 4 years later, I was fortunate enough to be selected from a field of 400 Warrant Officer candidates to attend rotary wing (helicopter) flight school. After an injury forced me to withdraw from school for medical reasons, I received an incredible assignment to the 529th Military Police Company in Heidelberg Germany. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this unit is similar to the Old Guard in Washington, DC, that protects the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier!  I wore two uniforms, one a camouflaged uniform as a road patrol supervisor and another in a dress blues uniform, similar to the ones you see in Washington DC. When I was not leading the team tasked with protecting the commanding 4-star general of the entire US Army in Europe (CINCEUR), I was performing in parades and other locations as a member of the elite USAEUR (US Army Europe) Honor Guard, and was also honored to be a member of the USAEUR Salute Battery. I captained the #2 105 MM howitzer cannon of the 529th’s Salute Battery, which included 3 howitzer cannons and a team of 11 military policeman. We flew all over Europe to fire 17 gun and 21 gun salutes to dignitaries and retiring military officials throughout Europe.

One of my most notable missions was the retirement ceremony for the SHAPE commander (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), General Alexander Haig, who went on to become the Secretary of State for President Ronald Reagan. In addition to our Military Police company’s presence at the event, armies from 16 other countries  attended the ceremony and we fired the 21 gun salute to honor General Haig’s service. From there I joined a military assistance team that traveled all over Europe to check the readiness of our soldiers.

One of my most proud moments was when I was honored to meet and have lunch with the only living five-star general (there have only been 5 in our country’s history), Gen. Omar Bradley. I and one other soldier were selected to have lunch with him and his staff during a visit he made to the leadership school that I and about 300 other non-commisioned officers were attending.. When I told my father  later that evening about the experience, he said to me, “I have been in the Army for 25 years now, went to battle in World War II, and I never even saw the man. And you had lunch with him? Wow! What a fantastic honor that is! It’s an honor that very, very few people will ever have the opportunity to experience in their lifetime. You should be very proud…”

There are countless numbers of veterans who are much more accomplished for their duty to their country. I was one of the lucky ones…

The total number of American soldiers who have died in all military conflicts involving the United States is estimated to be over **1.3 million**¹². This includes deaths from combat as well as other causes such as disease and accidents. Here are some notable figures from major conflicts:

– **American Revolutionary War**: Approximately 25,000 deaths¹.
– **Civil War**: Around 620,000 to 750,000 deaths¹².
– **World War I**: About 116,516 deaths¹.
– **World War II**: Approximately 405,399 deaths¹.
– **Korean War**: Around 36,574 deaths¹.
– **Vietnam War**: Approximately 58,220 deaths¹.
– **Gulf War**: About 294 deaths¹.
– **War on Terror (including Iraq and Afghanistan)**: Over 7,000 deaths².

These numbers reflect the immense sacrifices made by American service members throughout history. Is there a particular conflict or period you are interested in learning more about?

Source:
(1) United States military casualties of war – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war.
(2) United States: war fatalities1775-2024 | Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009819/total-us-military-fatalities-in-american-wars-1775-present/.
(3) US & Allied Killed and Wounded | Costs of War. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/military.
(4) Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths From 2006 Through 2021 – CRS Reports. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10899/13.
(5) Memorial Day by the Numbers: Casualties of Every American War. https://www.military.com/memorial-day/how-many-us-militay-members-died-each-american-war.html.

Here are 10 reasons why people should celebrate Veterans Day:

1. Honoring Sacrifice: Veterans have made significant personal sacrifices, often putting their lives on the line to protect the freedoms and safety of their fellow citizens¹.

2. Acknowledging Service: It’s a day to recognize and appreciate the dedication and hard work of those who have served in the military².

3. Promoting Patriotism: Celebrating Veterans Day fosters a sense of national pride and unity¹.

4. Educating the Public: It provides an opportunity to educate people about the history and significance of military service².

5. Supporting Veterans: The day can be used to support veterans through various means, such as participating in parades, attending ceremonies, or volunteering¹.

6. Remembering History: Veterans Day helps keep the memory of past conflicts and the lessons learned from them alive².

7. Building Community: Events and activities on Veterans Day can bring communities together in a shared purpose¹.

8. Inspiring Future Generations: Honoring veterans can inspire young people to consider military service or other forms of public service².

9. Highlighting Contributions: It’s a chance to highlight the contributions of veterans in various fields, including business, education, and public service¹.

10. Expressing Gratitude: Simply put, it’s a day to say “thank you” to those who have served and to show appreciation for their commitment and bravery².

Do you have any specific plans for Veterans Day this year?

Many restaurants, retail stores and other businesses will be honoring veterans this November 11th. Be sure to google “veteran’s day benefits” to take advantage of the discounts and free stuff being offered! Most importantly, don’t forget to say a prayer of remembrance for all who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us! 

That’s my take, but not taken lightly…

Lee