Washington DC The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) encourages all Americans to recognize and honor our nation’s men and women who served in the military on Veterans Day. Veterans Day is one of our nation’s most revered national holidays. The men and women from across America who have worn the uniform and served honorably deserve to not only be recognized on November 11th, but throughout the year, said NBCSL President and Indiana State Representative Gregory W. Porter.
Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919 to mark the first anniversary of the end of World War I. November 11th became the national holiday in 1938. Now each year, the nation celebrates veterans with numerous special programs, activities and parades, including the Veterans Day National Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are over 20 million veterans in the United States, with women representing nine percent of all veterans and African Americans, 12 percent.
Many of our NBCSL members are veterans, along with their parents and grandparents. There’s a legacy of African Americans serving our nation in the military beginning with the Revolutionary War through today. We are particularly uplifting African-American veterans since they were on the cutting edge of integration in America that began with the military during the Korean War, said President Porter.
What we must never forget is that all veterans have made great sacrifices to serve our country with some traveling thousands of miles away from family and friends to foreign lands to fight for our nation and secure freedom for others living under oppressive regimes. Our veterans, in many cases, risked their lives for our nation with some suffering life changing injuries. All Americans should support our veterans to make sure they receive the healthcare and other benefits they have so rightly earned and desperately need. The sacrifices they made, along with their families, can’t be minimized. Most importantly, let’s remember to honor our veterans every day, not just on Veterans Day, said President Porter.