Airmen gather to thank and honor America’s veterans

Photo By 1st Lt. Richard Longoria | Members of the base honor guard fold the American flag during a retreat ceremony Nov. 11, 2014, at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.  

GEILENKIRCHEN, NW, GERMANY

11.12.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Richard Longoria 

NATO E-3A Component

GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany - With more than 300 Airmen standing in formation, the American flag was lowered and folded by members of the base honor guard during a retreat ceremony to thank and honor America’s veterans Nov. 11, 2014, at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Prior to the ceremony, Col. Frank Samuelson, the senior national representative for all U.S. Air Force personnel assigned to the base, gave a speech recognizing the importance of Veterans Day and highlighting its history.

“Thank you. I am honored to join you in this tribute to America’s veterans. We are here on this solemn day to honor our veterans – their deed, their service, and their sacrifices. Since our country was founded there have been more than 50 million men and women that have served our Nation.

Sometimes we have a blending of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. To clarify, Memorial Day is set aside to remember and honor veterans who are deceased – both killed in the line of duty and those who have since passed away. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to ur national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty. So, on behalf of a grateful Nation, thank you for everything you do.

As I was looking for inspiration to write this speech, I came across a good book simply called 'VETERANS DAY, The American Calendar.' In it, you’ll find the history of Veterans Day, its evolving meaning, the experiences of war as told by notable Americans, and finally, the honoring of our Veterans.

According to the book, ‘On the morning of November 11, 1918, after four years of war, Allied and German powers met in Rethondes, France, to sign and armistice that halted the hostilities of World War I. the agreement was signed shortly after 0500 and went into effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, finally bringing to an end the carnage of the Great War – the war thought by many to be the war to end all wars. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson turned the nation’s thoughts toward those who had sacrificed on America’s behalf. He proclaimed the first Armistice Day, both to honor the services of the troops and to celebrate the opportunity that victory provided for the United States to advance the cause of peace and justice in the world. The first Armistice Day was conceived as a day to be set aside for public parades, meetings, and a two-minute suspension of all business activity at 1100. Other countries also observed the day, with many British Commonwealth nations using the red poppy – taken from John McCrae’s poem 'In Flanders Field' – to honor their fallen soldiers. At Armistice Day ceremonies the following year, the United Kingdom and France both established tombs of the unknown soldier, at Westminster Abbey and the Arc de Triomphe.’

So, the next time you’re in London or Paris, stop by and remember the meaning of the memorials. In 1921, the United States Congress approved the creation of our country’s own tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and set aside November 11th as a federal holiday to honor all those who served in the war.

In 1954, Congress officially renamed ‘Armistice Day’ as ‘Veterans Day’ and expanded the recognition of the holiday to include veterans of all American wars. In the same year, President Eisenhower proclaimed:

‘Whereas it has long been our custom to commemorate November 11th, the ending of World War 1, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace: and whereas in the intervening years the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation. Now, therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.’

President Eisenhower’s proclamation was short, but powerful and concise with deep meaning for all of us in uniform.

The U.S. has many national cemeteries where our war dead are buried. You can even find national cemeteries locally here in Europe. In fact today, as part of AFNORTHS’s school program, my wife and youngest son are in Margraten visiting the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial where over 8,000 American soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen are buried. I encourage you to take time to visit the American cemeteries in Europe to remember the service of those who have gone before us.

In a moment we will sound retreat, play the national anthem, and lower the flag. As the flag is being folded, take a moment to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our brother and sisters in arms. Again, thank you for attending today.”

• Date Taken: 11.12.2014
• Date Posted: 11.12.2014 08:58
• Story ID: 147596
• Location: GEILENKIRCHEN, NW, DE