Veterans Day deserves more attention
by Eitan Cooper
Editorial Assistant
Op-Ed | 11/17/09
Posted online at 10:57 PM EST on 11/16/09
/ Last updated at 2:19 PM EST on 11/16/09
Last Wednesday, I got a call from my brother at 12:30 in the afternoon. While this may seem perfectly normal, it actually puzzled me greatly. You see, he's a very serious high school student. Unlike many of his peers, he leaves his cell phone in his backpack during school hours. He would never dream of texting someone during class (let alone calling). I immediately thought that either something must be terribly wrong or my brother was developing a rebellious side.
However, neither was true. Because last Wednesday, Nov. 11, was Veterans Day. The vast majority of schools as well as post offices are closed for the day. At first, I shrugged this off as just another lame excuse for a free day. I wished that Brandeis had also canceled classes, too.
But later in the day, as I procrastinated on my schoolwork, I decided to do some research. What is Veterans Day? Why was it established as a holiday? And why did I have no idea that it was happening until I spoke to my studious brother on his day off?
At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1919-the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-an armistice agreement was signed that effectively ended World War I. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day to be a national holiday in celebration of the end of all wars (World War I was supposedly the "war to end all wars"). After World War II, it became pointless to commemorate a day that supposedly ended all wars, so the name was changed to Veterans Day. In theory, everyone would pause to recognize the importance of fighting for one's country.
Veterans Day is also important because it allows us to raise awareness for veterans' issues. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, "The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country."
However, neither was true. Because last Wednesday, Nov. 11, was Veterans Day. The vast majority of schools as well as post offices are closed for the day. At first, I shrugged this off as just another lame excuse for a free day. I wished that Brandeis had also canceled classes, too.
But later in the day, as I procrastinated on my schoolwork, I decided to do some research. What is Veterans Day? Why was it established as a holiday? And why did I have no idea that it was happening until I spoke to my studious brother on his day off?
At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1919-the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-an armistice agreement was signed that effectively ended World War I. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day to be a national holiday in celebration of the end of all wars (World War I was supposedly the "war to end all wars"). After World War II, it became pointless to commemorate a day that supposedly ended all wars, so the name was changed to Veterans Day. In theory, everyone would pause to recognize the importance of fighting for one's country.
Veterans Day is also important because it allows us to raise awareness for veterans' issues. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, "The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country."
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