Honoring My Two Personal Heroes

For those of you that live outside the United States, today is a special holiday that I hold close to my heart. 

Many of my readers might not know why we celebrate November 11th and I wanted to fill you in on a bit of history that has almost been forgotten.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world gathered to rejoice the end of World War I.  After four years of bitter war,the Armistice was signed and our dedicated and glorious boys returned home.

November 11, 1919 was originally set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices made by the men and women in service during World War I. As we do today, there were parades where soldiers marched through their home towns and the public gave thanks for the peace we had won.

In 1938, nearly 30 years after the end of the war, Armistice Day became a federal holiday.

In 1953 townspeople in Emporia, Kansas began to call the holiday "Veterans' Day" to pay respect to the veteran's in their community. Soon afterwards, Congress passed a bill  renaming Armistice Day as Veterans' Day.

In 1971, President Nixon declared it a federal holiday on the second Monday in November.

My prayers and sincere gratitude goes to all the service men and women that we have lost in every war that has befallen our great country. 

I give thanks to all the service men and women that continue to make the daily sacrifice to keep our world and country safe.  Today, and every day in the year, I thank you for your dedication and your valor.

Hats off to all my family members that have placed their dedication to this country foremost in their lives–they are my heroes, as they know.

Happy Veteran's Day to my first true hero, my Dad, and my son.  

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