Day To Remember
Veterans Day: Time to Recognize Veterans
When someone mentions America everyone associates it with freedom, but most do not give enough credit to those who fought for the country. Veterans Day is a federal holiday that allows for the opportunity to commemorate those who have served in the military.
According to an article by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this holiday has dated back to 1919 when President Wilson set Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. First established to honor those who died serving their country in World War I, it was later changed in 1954 to Veterans Day.
"Veterans Day is important because it gives us time to pause, reflect and express gratitude for the many sacrifices others have made so that we can live a life of freedom and safety," Rev. Seth Arnold said. "I don't do much for Veterans Day, but I think the Veterans Day All-School Mass that Kapaun [Mt. Carmel] hosts are a nice way of honoring the veterans in our community."
Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day, however Memorial Day only honors those who have passed away during their time of service, while Veterans Day commemorates all the people that have served in the military, including the living.
"My great-grandfather John was a veteran," Rev. Arnold said. "He served in World War II, in the pacific theater. When I found out, it changed how I looked at my Grandpa John. Knowing that he experienced many horrors of war, I was filled with great respect for his sacrifices."
An article by Charlie Health mentions that soldiers go through extensive training, but it usually does not fully prepare them for the horrors of war which often causes them lifelong trauma. Veterans are more likely to experience mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety and depression than the average American.
"My father was a navigator in World War II," Athletics Director secretary Pam Simonitsch said. "It wasn't something I found out about until I was in middle school. It was very interesting to see and to hear him talk about what life was like as a POW. He didn't really open up about it. You had to press him and get him to talk about it. My dad was always my hero, it's just another aspect to it."
According to an article written by Military.com since 1999, Veterans Day has evolved to recognize all veterans, even those who have served during times of peace. It is a time to recognize the contributions and ongoing challenges that the veterans continuously face.
"I am a retired lieutenant colonel from the Kansas Air National Guard," Simonitsch said. "I had about six years of active duty service in the Air Force, and moved to Wichita and joined the Air National Guard at McConnell and had many great opportunities. I think Kapaun's Veterans Day Mass is a very nice way to recognize veterans."
The article by Military.com since 1999 states, on Veterans Day it is a tradition for a president to lay a wreath on the Tomb of an Unidentified Soldier. To carry out this tradition, Kapaun [Mt. Carmel] lays a wreath on a stand to honor all the unidentified soldiers who have lost their lives fighting.
"I think Kapaun does a lot for veterans, I think it's good they do a Veterans Day Mass to honor veterans," sophomore Genevieve Mick said. "My dad is an Army veteran, and my mom is currently serving in the Air Force. For Veterans Day, we normally have dinner where my dad grills. I really enjoy that."
An article by the Therapy Bands website mentions that when veterans try to get help for any problems or effects serving has given, it is hard to access, and underadvertised so many veterans are not even aware of the helpful options available to them. The article also mentions the importance of increasing awareness and providing information directly to veterans on where they can get help if needed.
"I think Veterans Day is underappreciated to some degree since it doesn't get enough recognition through the U.S. considering everything the veterans have done for us," Mick said.