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Once again on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our nation celebrates Veterans Day.
It is good to recognize the sacrifices made by the 26.4 million living veterans of America’s wars. Those who have served and fought to protect freedom deserve our appreciation and admiration.
While acknowledging the veterans of past conflicts, though, we can’t help thinking this day of those now serving in the world’s hot spots. And in view of the ongoing war on terrorism, Americans are appropriately uneasy over prospects that within months, if not weeks, more young soldiers may find themselves in the heat of battle.
Indeed, the ranks of the nation’s veterans are likely to swell.
In the proclamation declaring the nation’s first Veterans Day – then it was called Armistice Day – Congress said the day should be "commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations."
On this Veterans Day in 2002, KSL believes thanksgiving is still in order for this land that stands as a beacon for freedom. And as much as ever, prayers and other exercises to perpetuate peace should be central to the day’s commemorations. Especially, though, let prayerful pleas be offered for those who are preparing for battle and will likely become the veterans of tomorrow.
