A day to thank our veterans — and to do more if they need it

The tradition that we observe today has its direct roots in World War I, then known as the Great War, but the Armistice Day that was declared at the end of those hostilities has evolved.

The bullets stopped flying in Europe on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, and in an ideal world that would have been the last day of the war to end all wars. But peace reigned over the continent for only two decades until the first shots were fired in what would be World War II. It was only after Americans served in yet another conflict, the Korean War, that Congress changed the official designation of the Nov. 11 holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

On Oct. 8 of that year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation that stated, “in order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands” in a national observance of Veterans Day.

It is a tradition that has served the nation well, reminding us of our obligation to honor the surviving veterans of all wars and conflicts. And it is a day that carries more than symbolic significance at a time such as this, when our fighting forces remain engaged in the longest running war that the United States has ever fought.

The war in Afghanistan began in October 2001, just a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and more than 10 years ago. Two years later, a new front was opened in Iraq.

Uneven sacrifice

These are wars that have taken a heavy toll on a relatively small number of families, which gives added importance to this day on which we are called to remember and honor the service provided by our military veterans and the sacrifices made by their families.

It is far too easy for families that have not sent sons or daughters to Iraq or Afghanistan to forget about our nation’s involvement there. There are other national holidays that tend to jog our memories, but this day is designed to make us think of the debt that the many owe the few.

It can even be argued that the holiday helped spur Congress to do the right thing for the thousands of veterans who are returning to civilian life — and finding that there are more of them looking for jobs than there are jobs available.

The Labor Department estimates that 12.1 percent of veterans who served in the military since the Sept. 11 attacks were unemployed in October. That compares with the national rate of 9 percent. Among veterans under the age of 24, the rate was closer to 22 percent.

The best helping hand

That makes it more than appropriate that the Senate Thursday voted with rare bipartisan support for one of President Barack Obama’s job creation programs, a bill that will offer companies a $5,600 tax credit for hiring each veteran who has been unemployed for six months. A smaller tax credit would be offered for bringing on vets who have been jobless a shorter period of time. Companies would also be offered a $9,600 tax credit for hiring out-of-work veterans with service-related disabilities.

At the same time, the administration has been working with the Chamber Commerce and with individual companies to secure hiring commitments. In a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama announced commitments from companies to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014.

Would these things happened without Veterans Day? Probably, although perhaps more slowly and with more wrangling.

The day may come when we are not producing a new generation of war veterans, and when we do not have to concern ourselves with an unemployment crisis among returning veterans. And if that day comes, we can mark Veterans Day in the best possible way, simply by remembering to say thank you to the veterans we know for the service they have rendered.