Many of you don’t know the name Raymond Weeks, but you should know at least a little about him.
In 1947, Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized “National Veterans Day,” in Birmingham, Alabama, complete with a parade and speeches, to honor all U.S. veterans. Raymond held his Veterans Day celebration on November 11, which was then designated Armistice Day.
November 11 is symbolic around the world because it was the commemoration of the end of World War I—the war to end all wars. Fighting ended at 11 a.m., on November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). At its conclusion, the estimates are that 38 million people lost their lives in that first awful world war. The U.S. lost 331,106 soldiers. Russia (9,150,000), Austria-Hungary (7,020,000), British Empire (3,190,235), France (6,160,800), Germany (7,142,558), and Italy (2,197,000), while many more countries lost smaller numbers, but each one was a human being who, when growing up had hopes and dreams, and doubtful none of them dreamed of giving up their lives on a battlefield.
In 1954 U.S. Congressman Edward Rees of Kansas introduced the bill calling for Armistice Day to be renamed Veterans Day. Congress passed the bill, and President Eisenhower signed it into law.
Weeks received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Reagan in November 1982. He was tireless in his devotion to all veterans, and he served as director of the National Veterans Day Celebration in Birmingham for 38 years.
On November 11, let us not forget the words of President Abraham Lincoln, “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Soldiers—men and women—have given their lives so that we can live in a free society. Many come home broken, needing help and are often outcasts, living on the streets of the major cities and small towns. There are from 40,000 to 50,000 veterans living on the streets of this country. That is inexcusable.
This year on November 11 let’s say a prayer for those who have fallen. Let’s also extend a hand to those who need a hand-up. These are the same people who extended their hand first when they took an oath to defend the country.
Let’s also ask our politicians who endlessly talk about fixing the problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) hospitals to make sure to find solutions to fix them. And then promptly enact those solutions instead of talking about them some more.
Veterans who have physical or mental health issues often have to wait too long for help. On July 7, 2016, the V.A reported that 20 veterans a day commit suicide nationwide. In 2014, the last year statistics were compiled, more than 7,400 veterans took their lives, which accounted for 18 percent of all suicides in the U.S.
President Coolidge once said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
On November 11, let’s not forget our veterans. And let’s hope that the reason for Armistice Day, now mostly forgotten, called for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front. It was indeed hoped that the war to end all wars would succeed. It’s a goal we can strive for. Until then, we need to honor those who go into peril’s way and pray that they come home. And when they do come, make sure they are taken care of if they need help.
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