Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice, is Monday.
Warren County High School’s JROTC cadets held their annual Veterans Day program on Friday, as is customary.
“We are here today to honor veterans for their service and to observe Veterans Day 2013,” said Cadet Janey Smartt.
She related the history of Veterans Day:
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting had ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
“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,” said Wilson.
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation to “insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose.”
In attendance and honored during Friday’s event at the high school were members of the Tennessee Army National Guard, United States Navy, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5064, Marine Corps League, and those members of the WCHS staff that served their country.
The event included fire trucks from McMinnville Fire Department, an ambulance from Warren County EMS, an Air Evac Life Team helicopter, the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force trailer and patriotic music including  “God Bless America,” “God Bless the USA,” and “Coming to America.”
Remember to thank all veterans for their service to the United States on Veterans Day.