Veteran’s Day

By Sr. Carlette Gentle

As we close today, let’s take a minute to pause and bring to mind those soldiers who willingly give of themselves to serve in the forces to protect our nation.  As I stopped to reflect about this day, I thought to myself, “How did Veteran’s Day come about?” A little research answered my question.

I found that ‘On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, a temporary end of hostilities was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.’

So as we focus on Veteran’s Day today and the true meaning behind it, let us reflect that we as human beings can help our nations to cease war.  We can help our community to cease violence. We can be a voice to cease negativity.  We can lend a hand to lift up a sister or brother.  We can give a shoulder to lean on, and we can open our hearts beyond ourselves to reach out to the hearts of others.  In this way, we too can become veterans in our surroundings where we help to build up our nations to the best it can be.

Today we ask God to guide us and be with us as we strive to witness to a non-violent way of living.  O God, continue to show us that you are present, that you are our hands, our feet, our eyes, our ears, our nose and our hearts.  You are our whole being O God.  Remain with us as we strive every day to be like you. Show us that we can exist to contribute positively to the growth and development of our nation using our individual gifts. God, we thank you for all these things.  AMEN