Today we see celebrations of our American military on American media. Today on Veterans Day, November 11, ABC’s Eye Witness News in Houston, is live-streaming a Veterans Day parade that is one of many special events today celebrating veterans. The City of Houston is showing support for our Armed Forces in their annual celebration, “Houston Salutes American Heroes” The day’s activities involve the AT&T Job & Resource Fair, in which there will be on-site to recruitment and employment resources for veterans from 30+ corporations.
The US Family Health Plan Health Fair is offering free health screenings and flu shots to veterans. A ceremony involves a salute to veterans and military personnel, with a keynote address, dignitaries, and 21-gun salute. This ceremony is followed by the Veterans Day Parade presented by H-E-B that will include thousands of, military organizations, ROTC leaders, marching bands and veterans of all eras.
Parade onlookers wave American flags and signs as Sailors march in the annual New York Veterans Day parade; Photo Courtesy of Kleynia R. McKnight.
Likewise, PIX 11, on November 11 covers live the NYC Veterans Parade. This parade is on NYC Fifth Avenue to honor our nation’s military with this 96th annual Veteran’s Day parade. Further, on November 11, NBC covers Veterans Day commemorations at the National World War II Memorial. This event is hosted by Friends of the National World War II Memorial and National Park Service. Across the country special Veterans Day events are being live-streamed on the WWW for all to enjoy. Also, online searches will lead to many special offers, coupons, and discounts for Veterans today.
The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs shares the history of this date, known today as Veterans Day. The history of Veterans Day goes back to the end of WWI, known at the time as “The Great War” that officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles in France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier with the armistice, temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany. This went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month; therefore, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony; Photo Courtesy of Mizzou News.
The Channel Guide Magazine reports many good programs on television that honor Veterans on November 11 and more. This special television programming includes the following: “Best Vets” Movie Marathon on AMC; Veterans Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony on C-SPAN. which includes a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations; HBO documentary that spotlights the traumas endured by America’s veterans; The Concert for Valor on HBO; Smithsonian Channel’s special that tells the story of former Navy SEAL Trevor Maroshek and his amazing war dog; Searching For Home: Coming Back From War on Link TV and more.
Today is a day in which the nation rallies in unity to thank our Veterans who have fought for Freedom for Americans and have sacrificed to serve and save many innocent people around the world. Freedom is not Free and we all have a great debt of gratitude to our Veterans this day and each day.
Written by Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performance Studies), dianehoward.com
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