Veterans Day - Re-committing as Catholics who are Patriots

On June 28, 1919 the treaty of Versailles was signed. An armistice had been reached seven months earlier at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. To our veterans - thank you, God bless you!

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Today is Veterans Day. As the Faithful Navigator, I sent the following email to our local Assembly:

Veterans Day - Re-committing as Catholics who are Patriots

On June 28, 1919 the treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I. However, an armistice had been reached seven months earlier and fighting actually ceased at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Beginning the following year, November 11 was known as "Armistice Day." President Woodrow Wilson established the day by saying, ""To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

On May 13, 1938 November 11th was declared a legal holiday by Congress to remember the cessation of fighting and those who had served in "The Great War." After the massive mobilizations of the military in World War II and the Korean War, Congress amended the Act of 1939 on June 1, 1954, declaring November 11 as "Veterans Day."

In 1971 the U.S. tried to turn Veterans Day into a moveable holiday to provide a three-day weekend. This ended up in a lot of confusion and frustration. Then, on September 20, 1975 President Gerald R. Ford returned Veterans Day to it proper place on November 11.

Today we honor all the men and women who have served their country in all branches of the Armed Services. As Fourth Degree Knights, this is a great time to renew our commitment as Catholic Patriots. At the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington last May, Archbishop Raymond Burke stated:

"Before the fundamental and great challenges which we as a nation are facing, how better to express our patriotism than by celebrating the teachings of our Catholic faith. The most treasured gift which we as citizens of the United States of America can offer to our country is a faithful Catholic life.

"It is the gift which, even though it has often been misunderstood, has brought great strength to our nation, from the time of its founding. Today more than ever, our nation is in need of Catholics who know their faith deeply and express their faith, with integrity, by their daily living."

As a Vietnam Veteran (USNR) and Faithful Navigator, I want to say to all the veterans in our Assembly - thank you and God bless you!

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online. He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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