November 11, 1918. The Great War finally drew to a close. Over sixty million soldiers had spent the last four years in what was the world’s most grueling fight. Almost ten million of them would never come home. For those who did, the scars remained until their last breath. Those who returned were celebrated with parades and declared heroes to the nation. In 1921, on a quiet hill in Arlington National Cemetery, an unknown soldier was laid to rest. His burial sparked an initiative that continues to be celebrated to this day.
Veteran’s Day was born from the Great War, officially receiving recognition in 1926 and being signed into law in 1938. Originally created to celebrate those veterans of World War I, it quickly changed to included veterans of all wars by 1947.
This tradition carries on as the list of names grows longer, the conflicts increase. While war is neither pleasant nor something anyone should aspire to, it has become a unifying factor for many Americans from all walks of life.
During my time in service, I was sometimes days away from deploying to places like Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia. After spending two years on the Korean DMZ, I finally got the opportunity to go to a real fight in 2002. First Afghanistan and then two years in Iraq.
Veteran’s Day, for me, is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Relive precious moments that begin to fade as memory stretches. It is a chance to share the bond only two percent of the population has. One impossible to replicate and often missing throughout the year as we return to society and attempt to rebuild our lives.
Wake County is home to an estimated 50,000 veterans. Men and women who, for the most part, volunteered to set their lives aside in the name of country. Look around and you’ll see a hat proclaiming a service or particular ship or war. License plates and shirts go hand in hand with the flag hanging off the porch.
Our reasons for joining vary, and we come from every corner of society. For some, the thought of their time in combat is bitter. Others accept it as part of their lives.
I first met Steve DiGangi when he was a cadet at the United States Military Academy. A jokester with a good heart, I had trouble reconciling that upon graduation he and the rest of his class would be heading to either Iraq or Afghanistan. They never flinched.
In Steve’s words, “Veteran’s Day is all about gratitude. I owe so much to the military and the experiences I had while in uniform. Thanks to the Army, I received an education, learned some hard lessons about myself, met my wife at my first duty station, and had the privilege of serving next to the most incredible men and women in this country. Every day I am thankful to be a veteran and thankful for all those veterans who came before and after me.”
His sentiments are reflected time and again.
Mike and Karen Bingham spent their time in Air Force uniform. From Karen: “Veterans Day for me is a time of reflection on the many colleagues and family members who served in years gone by. Many years I served other veterans as a nurse in the USAF Nurse Corps. Their stories and trust in me were priceless and created many memories. As I retire this year, I am hoping to give back to other veterans. Each year I take a moment, wherever I am, to pause and give thanks for the veterans I served with.”
Mike’s experience is one many of us share: “I spent 22 years active duty in the Medical Services Group, and 20 years before that as a military brat at many duty stations following my dad. On Veteran’s Day, I remember the places I served and the people I served with, both here and abroad. I spend Veteran’s Day quietly at home as the civilian world rarely notes the holiday today.”
Not everyone who serves does so for decades. The military is tough on the mind and body. Twenty years in uniform is a big ask. Some do their time and move on to bigger and better things.
Bob Gunshefski proudly wore the uniform of a United States Marine from 1983-1987. For him: “Veteran’s Day is a time to reflect on my service to this country with pride. I stop and think about the many men and women I served with during that time. As a current employee of the VA hospital, I see the price that many veterans pay to support and protect this country. This Veteran’s Day, I will be spending time with my family.”
This year marks 25-year-old Brendan Hanley’s first as a veteran, having just returned home from Fort Meade. Specialist Hanley’s work as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber) earned him the Army Commendation Award and medal for Outstanding Service in Digital Network Exploitation Analysis.
As Brendan prepares for the next chapter of his life, he shared these thoughts: “I am proud of the work my peers and I accomplished every day. They are the best of friends, and I will miss them terribly. I will spend Veteran’s Day with my family and friends, and I’m looking forward to a good American hamburger. I also will be texting my friends and comrades from my old unit to wish them well.”
Regardless of whether they wore the uniform for a few years or a few decades, every man and woman who served honors Veteran’s Day differently.
For Tim Ruff, joining the Navy and following in his father’s footsteps, seemed inevitable:
“Both my dad and I served in the US Navy. He served for 36 years, mainly as a submariner. I served nine years, as an electronic technician. Throughout my early life, Dad would be gone for three to six months at a time and only home for a few months between tours. Communication from the submarine was difficult and infrequent. During the time in between ‘cruises,’ my family worked hard to get reconnected again. I remember the joy of seeing him at any of my practices or games. During the months while he was out at sea, Mom became a single mother trying to balance work and kids. Although I wasn’t deployed during Desert Shield, there was quite a bit of nervousness about the possibility of being deployed and wondering what that would mean.
To me, Veteran’s Day is a recognition of the sacrifices of not just the individual who is deployed, but also the family at home trying to keep a sense of normality while losing a loved one for months at a time. On Veteran’s Day, I call my dad and thank him for his service, and more importantly, we just chat about whatever is on our minds that day.”
These are but a few of the stories walking by you in the grocery store, sitting next to you in the movie theater, or at the table across the room in your favorite restaurant. No one joined for the free meals (though it hits the spot from time to time), nor for the thanks. Most of us go through our days without feeling the need to tell someone we’re a veteran. Sure, all those things feel good and, for a moment, might make us feel special, but the truth is far simpler.
We joined the military, went to war, and did our parts so that others wouldn’t have to. We did what we did, and that’s that. Let’s all remember on November 11 when we see the old man with the WWII cap or the young lady with the VA license plate—Veteran’s Day is a time to set aside political ideations or personal misgivings and just… recognize.
