Veterans Day is an annual celebration of our nation’s military veterans who volunteered themselves to the greater causes of freedom and the American spirit.

There are nearly 25 million veterans living in our country today, and these heroic men and women deserve our esteemed gratitude for their service.

Veterans Day, originally called “Armistice Day,” marked the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. This day was designated by President Woodrow Wilson as a day commemorating world peace and the veterans of World War I.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower gave the holiday its current namesake to celebrate not just veterans of World War I, but veterans of all wars.

Today, Veterans Day is celebrated with parades and celebrations in honor of local veterans. Some students and working adults will enjoy a day off as many schools and companies close for the day. The Stars and Stripes will fly on government buildings and houses, and some families in our communities will grieve for loved ones who gave their lives on distant battlefields.

Whether they were defending democracy in the jungles of the Pacific or leading campaigns in the Middle East, on this day our veterans are celebrated in a bittersweet mix of pride and sorrow.

Our nation’s service members come from every state and are willing to be shipped overseas to wherever they are needed, all for the purpose of safeguarding those they love back home. Bound by a common bond of camaraderie and fellowship, Americans in uniform endure sacrifices and risks to protect our freedoms. Our communities are the proud work of our military, without which the nation we know would not be today. We owe our veterans everything, yet they expect nothing in return for their service.

We sleep under the blanket of freedom that our heroes in uniform have provided for us, and for that we have much to be grateful for. This Veterans Day, I encourage you and your family to take a moment to honor the veterans of every era who have contributed to our nation’s success.

None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without good men and women who answer the call to duty.

Those who fought to protect the free world from everything from tyrants to terrorism deserve our thanks, not just on designated holidays, but every day that we live in freedom and prosperity. As a state legislator and proud American, I will continue to advocate on behalf of our service members and veterans in the Statehouse.

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