Published October 1996 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd A Spirited Salute to Our Veterans
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918, the ceasefire that ended World War I brought silence to the muddy battlefields of Europe. Now, each year on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we honor American veterans of all wars. Almost 5 million Americans served during World War I, which was optimistically, if wrongly, called the "war to end all wars." Since that time, valiant American men and women have carried the U.S. flag into combat in other wars and smaller conflicts, from the globe-spanning battles of World War II to the recent Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. Almost 40 million Americans have answered their country's call to battle since the turn of this century. Just over 700,000 of those noble souls sacrificed their lives in the course of answering their call to duty. As a nation, we owe an unquenchable debt of gratitude to these wartime veterans and to their families, who bear the pain and worry of separation from, or loss of, their loved ones. We also owe our thanks and commendation to those who serve in peacetime, maintaining the vigilance and skills needed to deter conflict. During the Cold War, their unblinking presence kept at bay the largest army the world has ever seen, in the former Soviet Union. Today, the Armed Forces of the United States are deployed across the globe, maintaining the watchful preparedness that keeps peace and stability in places like the Korean peninsula and the Persian Gulf, or supporting operations intended to reintroduce peace and stability into regions of conflict. While I may not always agree with the missions to which U.S. forces are deployed, the men and women of our military always have my unflagging support. Active duty forces depend on the support of Reserve and National Guard units more than ever. The citizen-soldiers of the National Guard and Reserves carry the double burden of civilian jobs in addition to their military role. They, and the employers that support them so admirably, also deserve our appreciation. Veterans Day is a day for remembrance, a day for prayers, and a day for thanks. To all who have so bravely faced the dangers of battle, to all who have lost their lives, and to all who stand watch over our nation today, I offer my heartfelt prayers and my sincere thanks. October 30, 1996