Your turn: Debts to vets, if ignored, will pile up interest
Early on, before our nation was a nation, individuals were willing to put everything they owned, as well as their lives, on the line, as they formed groups and stepped up to “Fight for a Free and United Country."
This original fight became a war, because in great part, the colonists were opposed to the crown’s attempts to impose greater control over the colonies and to force them to pay, in taxes, what the crown had spent on the French and Indian War (1754-1763).
How could we ever calculate the debt, we as citizens, owe these “vets,” the men, women and children from 250 plus years ago?
Follow that question with, “How about the interest?"
Since the separation from the crown, I believe the debt as well as the interest we owe the veterans of that time period, has been being paid back, as we have over the past 250 plus years, continued the ongoing support and defense of the nation that was formed following that war.
Your turn: Historic facts can be brutal
Being very clear, we have fought many wars, and on many occasions knocked on the door of others, in our continued defense of our precious country. We as a nation have proven our love to those original defenders of freedom, along with all those who have stepped up to defend us over the centuries. Not always in an armed way.
Members of every city, town, and municipality, strive to work together meeting the needs of the greater good, as we go about life, with the desire to do it in an orderly manner. Working to honor each other’s space, as well as needs, all the while going about our daily lives.
In order to keep the freedoms, earned so many years ago available to all, we form groups — governing bodies, if you will — with the intention of maintaining a safe and peaceful environment in which to live.
As ordinary as some of these steps to freedom feel, each of them play a role in the payback to those from centuries ago, as well as all of those who have stepped up in all the wars since.
The citizens of the United States remember that the First World War ceased firing at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, after Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies.
The day we now celebrate as Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day. The name coming from what has been referred to as “The War to end all Wars,” World War I.
Veterans Day didn’t always celebrate all military veterans. A year after the armistice, Americans made plans to observe the anniversary nationwide. Multiple governors declared legal holidays. On Nov. 11, 1919, the New York Times noted, people around the world would hold moments of silence at 11 a.m.
President Woodrow Wilson issued a message in commemoration of the anniversary, saying, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”
In 1926, the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution urging President Calvin Coolidge to issue annual Armistice Day proclamations. In 1938, November 11 was designated Armistice Day nationwide by act of Congress.
In 1954, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by removing the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation, on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Every year, we, as a nation, pause at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, to reflect and honor our Veterans. One of a myriad of ways we continue to cover the interest on the debt.
George B. Graham Jr. is an author, lifetime associate member of the Korean War Veterans Association, member of the Macon County Historical Society, Macon, Missouri, and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Debts to vets, if ignored, will pile up interest
