On Veterans Day, the errands can wait

Goshen honors veterans on Monday, November 11. Schools are closed, the retail sales will still be available later in the day, and the errands can wait until mid-afternoon.

November 11 is the day Americans have set aside each year to honor the men and women who have been willing to sacrifice anything and everything, including their own life if necessary, all to preserve our freedom to complain, argue and insult each other over politics, development, or the conditions of local roadways under construction.

Goshen’s observance of Veterans Day is hosted by American Legion Post #377 with assistance from VFW Post #1708. It will be held on the South Church Street side of Church Park at the memorial across from Donovan’s Funeral Home. A combined color guard of American Legion and VFW members will march a short way down South Church Street and post the colors at precisely 11 a.m.

How did Veterans Day escape the uncertainty of most of our federal holidays, the dates changing from year to year to accommodate three-day weekends? We know why no one would suggest changing Christmas from December 25. Who would want to explain to the kids why you don’t know how many days are left until Santa shows up? And how would we explain to our little tricksters that Halloween was no longer on October 31, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

Perhaps the difference is the significance of Veterans Day. It originated as“Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.

In 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law a name change from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to encompass veterans from any era, domestic or out of country. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans — living or dead — but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

So now you know when this year’s Veterans Day is, and next year’s and the one after that. The day of the week will change, but the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month will always be the date and time to set aside a few moments to honor those among us who have served our nation in uniform and then returned to continue serving our communities.

In keeping with that sentiment, Suresky’s Auto will again be welcoming any area veteran and their families to a wonderful luncheon at the dealership at the corner of Hatfield Lane. The Suresky family and their employees look forward to this free event each year as a way to pay tribute to our region’s veterans.