One Hundred Years Later

This Sunday is Veterans Day which began as Armistice Day, marking the end of "The War to End All Wars" also known as World War One, but obviously and sadly, failing to achieve its goal, hence the numerical suffix. Sunday’s remembrances also mark the centennial of the end of that first world war.

Sunday morning at 11, to commemorate the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice was signed that ended the hostilities, the members of the Frederick J. Sullivan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2212 and the Peter Gallen American Legion Post 104 in Taftville, joined by local elected officials and Congressman Joe Courtney will hold their annual Veterans Day observance in Memorial Park (on the corner of South Second Avenue and South B Street in Taftville). In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to the American Legion Post 104 at 22 Merchants Avenue.

Later in the day, at one in the afternoon at Chelsea Parade, there will be observances marking not only the Centennial of the World War I Armistice but also one hundred years of women’s service in the US military. Our local ceremonies are usually understated as is probably most befitting a common and shared national experience. They are well-attended but there’s always room for you if you’d like to join us.

I very much believe there’s a relationship between Election Day, yesterday, and Veterans Day. I submit that without the latter I’m not sure we would still be having the former. You are welcome to disagree because a veteran made sure you have that right as well.

As a veteran, I’m always impressed with how much veterans have in common despite our differences in age, sex, ethnicity, religion or political beliefs. Our composition very much reflects the nation which has been and continues to be protected by our uniformed service. Sometimes, I admit, we seem to forget that. 

With a population of about 325.7 million people, there are an estimated 18.5 million veterans among us. Veterans Day truly is our Day of National Remembrance and Recognition of all the characteristics, embodied by everyone who served as well as those who wait for those who served, which allows us to remain among the freest nations in the world. 

I've gotten older if not better and my memory fades but I recall the boy I was who listened to John Kennedy a World War Two Navy veteran, when he was elected President of the United States in 1960, urging us to "....pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

Service to others, like any other habit, becomes second-nature when performed often enough. Yesterday’s elections across our country continue and extend conversations about what’s in need of repair from sea to shining sea. 

Veterans Day should remind us of all that is right with us, and with one another.

-bill kenny