Tomorrow, on Friday, November 11, Cleveland State University will be closed for the national observance of Veterans Day.
Coming from a military family with many relatives who are veterans, my parents always wanted us to understand the history of this important holiday, and so I share this brief summary with you:
Unlike many other federal holidays, Veterans Day is observed on a specific date, regardless of the day of the week. This is done in remembrance of the armistice of 1918, declared at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, ceasing fire between enemy nations during World War I. On the first anniversary of the ceasefire, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 “Armistice Day” to honor the American military forces who had served their country in the modern world’s deadliest war. In 1954, the day was renamed “Veterans Day” to honor all American military veterans who serve our country.
Later today, at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Center, our Veteran & Military Success Center will host an event commemorating Veterans Day. This year’s event is titled “Honoring Women Who Served,” recognizing the nearly 10% of the American veteran population who may often feel unseen or overlooked.
I hope you will join us for this important event to show your appreciation for those who have served or have military families, both at CSU and across the nation. Our diversity as a community is our strength. Each of us are unique in our beliefs, our backgrounds and our goals. The student veterans and military-connected students at CSU are a vital part of that diversity, sharing experiences and fortitude that many of us will not know firsthand.
To those at CSU who have served, thank you for your courage and your commitment to our safety. And to our Veteran & Military Success Center and other departments who organized the week of Veterans Day events, thank you for sharing the message that we support our veterans.
I hope that everyone is able to spend Veterans Day as it was initially intended in the 1926 congressional resolution: as a day “designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding.”
