Pause for our Veterans

Veterans Day is almost upon us once again. However, its importance is often lost among the many activities that sometimes overwhelm our lives. On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to the United States. It had been one year since World War I had ended. That war was formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The Armistice with German went into effect.

The anniversary of that 1918 date would be observed as Armistice Day until 1954 when it was changed to Veterans Day. It is a day that honors our military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is also a day in which we put aside political differences and thank the many who have stood up to serve their country.

I was very proud to enlist in the United States Navy while still a teenager. It was during the very unpopular Vietnam War and a lot of naysayers thought I was out of my mind to enlist. I listened to them respectfully and thought it through for weeks before traveling to Silver Street in Manchester where the enlistment office was at the time.

I recognized that I might very well be killed or injured while serving my country but the patriotic fervor I felt and the gratitude I had for a country that had been good to me, completely overrode any fears. I wasn't alone in feeling that way. The plane that left Manchester to fly to Chicago and the Great Lakes Training Center, was filled with other New Hampshire residents eager to do their part on behalf of a great nation.

More recently, the local high school I attended, Bishop Brady High School, unveiled an Alumni Veterans Wall of Honor. On the Wall are the names of those who attended both St. John's High School and Bishop Brady. The first time I saw my name among the names also honored, I was not prepared fully for the emotional reaction I experienced. I was not, however, surprised by the sheer numbers of men and women who had offered their service for their country. At Brady it was instilled in each and every one of us the value and importance of giving back. Of going out and trying to make the world a better place.

As they have for several years, Brady will honor its Veterans with a breakfast and ceremony, encompassing the entire student body, this Friday morning, November 9.

The people of Concord, New Hampshire have always heeded the call and stood up to serve the United States of America with pride and courage. This Veterans Day take a few minutes to recognize that the day is about more than just a holiday or a time for sales. Remember the brave souls who risked life and limb to make sure this country remains the "land of the free and the brave".