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By: Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
“We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause (Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States).
These poignant words invite us to reflect with profound gratitude upon the extraordinary men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation’s armed forces. Far more than simply a federal holiday, Veterans’ Day is an opportunity for all Americans to pause and recognize our neighbors, friends, family members, and fellow citizens whose courage, sacrifice, and faithful service have helped preserve the freedoms we enjoy and too often take for granted.
Our nation has formally honored its military veterans since 1919, when November 11 was first observed as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. Over time, that observance became Veterans’ Day, honoring all who have served our country in uniform, in times of war and in times of peace.
Veterans’ Day is not only about remembering the sacrifices of the past. It is also about recognizing the living heroes among us today. They are the men and women who returned home to their families and communities, sometimes bearing visible wounds, sometimes carrying burdens known only to themselves. They are our parents and grandparents, our sons and daughters, our friends and neighbors. Many continue to serve their country and communities in countless ways long after their military service has ended.
President John F. Kennedy once observed, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” His words remind us that gratitude for our veterans must extend beyond ceremonies, speeches, and expressions of thanks. It must be reflected in the respect we show them, the care we provide for those who struggle, the support we offer their families, and our determination never to take for granted the liberties they helped defend.
This Veterans’ Day, I invite the faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to join me in offering heartfelt prayers of gratitude for all our living veterans, especially those within our own parish communities. Let us remember their families, who have also shared in the sacrifices of military service. Let us pray for veterans who struggle with illness, disability, loneliness, or the lasting effects of war. And let us never forget our sacred responsibility to honor their service by working for the peace and justice that every human being deserves.
May a true, just, and lasting peace always remain our ultimate goal as “one nation under God.” May the Lord bless our veterans with good health, strength, peace of mind, and the enduring gratitude of the nation they have served so faithfully as well as their families, and — as always — God bless the United States of America!