Sharing Their Stories

OUR VETERANS: SHARING THEIR STORIES A Newspaper in Education Supplement to ES I R O Who are Veterans? R ST R They are men and women who, for many time went on, “veteran” was used to describe I reasons, donned the uniform of our country to any former member of the armed forces or a stand between freedom and tyranny; to take up person who had served in the military. NG THE NG I the sword of justice in defense of the liberties In the mid-19th century, this term was we hold dear; to preserve peace and to calm often shortened to the simple phrase “vets.” The HAR S the winds of war. term came to be used as a way to categorize : : Your mothers and fathers, your and honor those who had served and sacrificed grandparents, your aunts and uncles, your through their roles in the military. neighbors, the shop owners in your community, ETERANS your teachers, your favorite athlete, a Hollywood History of Veterans Day V R star, and your political leaders... each one could World War I, also known as the “Great OU be a veteran. War,” was officially concluded on the 11th But as much as they may differ by gender, hour of the 11th Day of November, at 11 A.M. race, age, national origin, or profession, they in 1918. On November 11th of the following share a common love for our great nation; a year, President Woodrow Wilson declared that love great enough to put their very lives on the day as “Armistice Day” in honor of the peace. line, if need be, to guarantee the way of life we (The term armistice means “truce” or the end World War II Memorial, Washington, DC. Credit: (c) Richard Latoff/Latoff.com enjoy today, and to secure that way of life for of wartime hostilities.) This day was marked tomorrow’s generations. with public celebrations and a two-minute halt National Ceremonies Held at Arlington The title “veteran” must be earned. It is a to business at 11 AM. In 1921, the Tomb of the National Cemetery Newspaper Activities: title endowed by a grateful nation on citizens Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington The focal point for official, national Veterans have unselfishly made sacrifices whose shoulders were broad enough to carry Cemetery with a ceremony on November ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be for the sake of their country. Look in today’s the weight of our common defense. 11th. After this dedication, Armistice Day was the memorial amphitheater built around the newspaper and find either a picture of or an It is a title that speaks of courage and adopted in many states and at the federal level Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November article about a person or veteran who put sacrifice in the face of mortal danger. as a day to honor veterans. This was made 11, a combined color guard representing all someone else’s needs above his or her own. It is a title that speaks of compassion and official in 1938 when an act of Congress made military services executes “Present Arms” at What were the consequences of the unselfish heartbreak in the wake of the terrible cost of Armistice Day a national holiday. the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead act? What might have happened if the person war. If the idealistic hope had been realized is symbolized by the laying of a presidential had not acted? And it is a title that speaks of love of that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” MES wreath. The bugler plays “taps.” The rest of the Ti country, and of a belief in America’s goodness, November 11 might still be called Armistice ceremony takes place in the amphitheater. Veterans exemplify good character N N O and our strength. Day. But only a few years after the holiday was The President’s Veterans Day National qualities like loyalty, courage, responsibility, In each of America’s struggles, heroes proclaimed, World War II broke out in Europe. Committee coordinates Veterans Day respect and other traits. Find stories in your NGT I in uniform emerged to inspire and spur us on Sixteen and one-half million Americans took ceremonies at Arlington and elsewhere. newspaper about people that exhibit both good to victory. Our veterans’ steadfast resolve to part. Four hundred seven thousand of them Chaired by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and bad character. What choice did they make? stand and fight for the American way of life died in service, more than 292,000 in battle. the committee represents national veterans What was the outcome? What are the good or HE WASH HE is a constant reminder that the righteousness The first celebration using the term bad character traits that they exhibited? What T organizations. of our destiny overarches the anguish of our Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Governors of many states and U.S. can you learn from them? To losses. Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World territories appoint Veterans Day chairpersons America’s servicemen and women, who War II veteran, organized “National Veterans who, in cooperation with the National became our nation’s veterans when they set Day,” which included a parade and other Committee and the Department of Defense, their uniforms aside and resumed their civilian festivities, to honor all veterans. The event PPLEMENT PPLEMENT arrange and promote local ceremonies. lives, distinguished themselves through their was held on November 11, still designated Su N willingness to risk life and limb in defense of as Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative IO the freedoms we all cherish. Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that AT Those who have served our nation in would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In UC uniform are the best people our society has to 1954, Congress passed the bill that President ED N offer. We owe them our full support, and our Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 I sincerest thanks. to be Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received America’s veterans did not shrink from the Presidential Citizens Medal from President SPAPER battle; they did not yield to fear; they did not Reagan in November 1982. Weeks’ local W abandon their cause. All too often they paid the parade and ceremonies have now become an NE ultimate price. annual event celebrated nationwide. A By their example of courage under fire, A law passed in 1968 changed the national // they raised up a new nation, inspired by the commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth dignity of the common man — a nation blessed Monday in October. It soon became apparent, with heroes and heroes’ dreams. however, that November 11 was a date of Credit: Excerpt from 2003 speech at historic significance to many Americans. the National Young Leaders conference in Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the Washington, DC. observance to its traditional date. Today, Veterans Day is still observed on VETERANS DAY HISTORY November 11th as a national holiday to honor EPTEMBER 15 • 2010 2010 • 15 EPTEMBER S Where does the term “veteran” come all veterans of the United States Armed Forces. from? Throughout the nation, Americans participate Originally, the word veteran meant “a in parades, ceremonies, and observances to person of long experience” or skill. Derived pay their respects to our former servicemen from the Latin term veteranus, after the and women. American Revolution the word veteran came to WEDNESDAY • • WEDNESDAY be associated specifically with former soldiers 2 of old age who had fought for independence. As Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, VA OU R V African Americans: ETERANS Honor Deferred : : S African Americans have always fought A thorough 15-month investigation by sent to Europe to help support the wide-scale of the black soldiers of the 92nd Division was HAR in this country’s wars, back to the American a team of seven researchers revealed that war effort. Deployed to oppose Hitler’s Army in that they felt they didn’t receive the necessary I Revolution, and up through the Civil War, World there were no unprocessed recommendations Italy was the all-black 92nd Infantry Division, support despite their dedication. THE NG War I, and World War II. But, they had not for Medals of Honor. During the course of 15,000 strong. Though not the first black always been welcomed as full participants, and interviews, a number of white commanders troops to be deployed to combat duty, the 92nd Newspaper Activity I were relegated to segregated units throughout made it clear that they understood they should was the largest group of black combat soldiers Even today individuals and groups ST R these conflicts. Despite the discrimination they not recommend an African-American for the to fight in World War II. are the targets of racism, stereotyping and O R I faced, African Americans continued to fight Medal of Honor. It was a ‘no, no’. While eager to fight against the enemy, discrimination. Watch your newspaper for ES willingly in the U.S. armed forces even as they There was not an order. But within these soldiers lacked proper training for stories about these issues. For each story struggled to achieve citizenship rights in U.S. the ranks it seemed clear that no African combat duty. They had been prepped for create a web illustrating who is affected. Write society. Americans would be granted the Medal of service jobs and manual labor. Training was an editorial or short essay about solutions to When World War II came around there was Honor.

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