It is indeed a pleasure to share my views about Veterans Day with The Ripon Forum. This national holiday is for honoring all those who have served their country in uniform. It means a great deal to the men and women who have worn or currently wear the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, as well as their families and dependents, to have their efforts and sacrifices remembered by their friends, neighbors and the entire country.
Veterans do not consider themselves heroes or want copious amounts of praise or recognition. Nonetheless, they appreciate having fellow countrymen recognize their sacrifice such as exhibited by Veterans Day celebrations around the country. The WWI veterans are gone, the number of WWII veterans is dwindling, the Korea and Vietnam Veterans are rapidly moving into their waning years, and the Bosnia, Grenada, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans are aging as well. Veterans Day offers us the opportunity to express our gratitude for all those patriots that have served and continue to serve to protect our freedoms. Veterans Day serves as a reminder to us all that “All Gave Some and Some Gave All” and “Freedom is not Free.” By honoring our service men and women, we also honor their dependents and relatives, and future generations will have the opportunity to pay tribute to these great Americans.
Veterans Day serves as a reminder to us all that “All Gave Some and Some Gave All” and “Freedom is not Free.”
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day and signified the end of hostilities of World War I. After World War II, an individual by the name of Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama presented his idea to expand the meaning of Armistice Day to recognize all veterans, living as well as deceased, to General Dwight D. Eisenhower who liked the idea. From that day forward, it became known as Veterans Day, and Mr. Weeks led the first and all subsequent such celebrations in Alabama from 1947 until his death in 1985. President Reagan presented Mr. Weeks the Presidential Citizenship Award in 1982, recognizing him as the driving force behind this national day. It seems appropriate to recognize the founder of the day for his compassion for his fellow comrades. It is important to remember that there is no apostrophe in the written form of Veterans Day, which is intentional, because the day belongs to all veterans — not one individual or a select group, but all who have worn or wear the uniform.
This day has special meaning for me as a decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran to remember all veterans, including Vietnam Veterans and especially the ones I served with in country. While I have great admiration for World War I, World War II, Korea, and other veterans, I want my country to know how valiantly Vietnam Veterans served the United States of America. They were every bit as capable and talented as their predecessors and those that have followed in their footsteps. Never once did I see them hesitate to enter a fight to protect their comrades, often under the most difficult of circumstances.
By honoring our service men and women, we also honor their dependents and relatives, and future generations will have the opportunity to pay tribute to these great Americans.
Their willingness to protect this country shall never be forgotten, and I want our Veterans to know their service and patriotism is very much appreciated. Our country was going through some trying times during that period in our nation’s history, and Vietnam Veterans did not receive the recognition and expression of appreciation they deserved. Fortunately, society has changed and we are currently providing such recognition to all soldiers, including our beloved Vietnam Veterans.
In conclusion, I will simply say God Bless the soldiers and their families and God Bless America.
Jim Baird represents Indiana’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Baird served in the Vietnam War, and his distinguished service to our country was recognized with a Bronze Star with V device and two Purple Hearts.