Daily Herald opinion: Honor those who served on Veterans Day then go one step further
On Monday, we mark Veterans Day, paying tribute to those who have served our nation’s armed forces with pride, honor and courage.
Nov. 11 was chosen more than a century ago in honor of the 1918 World War I armistice between the Allied nations and Germany that took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
That war was dubbed the “war to end all wars,” a sentiment full of optimism and promise that all too soon proved untrue.
U.S. forces would go on to fight in the battlefields, seas and skies of points across the globe in the decades that followed. Many lost their lives on foreign soil; many returned home changed by all they had seen and experienced.
Throughout this weekend and all day Monday, events across the suburbs will honor our veterans with ceremonies, speeches, breakfasts and patriotic concerts. You can find days, times, locations and other details in our Time out! section and online at dailyherald.com.
Please take the time to look at that list and, if you can, to participate in one of the many options to show support for our veterans and thank them for their service.
Attending a Veterans Day event, especially in these politically divisive and uncertain times, is a thoughtful way to assure those who have served our nation that their sacrifice has not been — and will never be — forgotten.
We see Veterans Day as a call to remember, to reflect and to honor.
National Warrior Call Day on Nov. 17 is a call to action.
The day, established a few years ago by the Troops First Foundation, falls each year on the Sunday after Veterans Day.
Organizers urge people to take time to reach out to veterans and active-duty service members to offer support, lend an ear and help them find the resources needed to address whatever physical and emotional wounds linger after their service ends.
It’s also a time to raise awareness of the challenges veterans face and to advocate for greater support for our men and women who may be grappling with traumatic brain injuries, trauma, depression and more.
The need is clearly there. About 17 veterans per day die by suicide. Up to two-thirds of veterans who take their own lives had no previous contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs, research shows.
Many others suffer silently, feeling isolated and alone.
The aim of National Warrior Call Day is to reduce that feeling of isolation and, by doing so, save lives.
So make that call.
It’s the least we can do for those who laid their lives on the line for our nation.