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Nov. 11 is an important date to the United States of America. It has been a special day for more than a century.
Nov. 11 first became prominent in 1918 – it was the day fighting officially ended in World War I, when an armistice was declared. In a little play on numerology, the war was declared over on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. President Woodrow Wilson declared it Armistice Day in 1919.
All About the Date
Armistice Day was celebrated sporadically for the next 20 years. By 1926, 27 states had declared Nov. 11 to be a legal holiday. Patriotic displays and events were encouraged, and a brief pause at work at 11 a.m. was encouraged to mark the signing of the armistice.
It wasn’t until 1938 – as the world teetered on the brink of World War II – when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation to make Armistice Day a legal federal holiday, dedicated to “the cause of world peace.” Armistice Day was still celebrated, but the drums of war got all of the country’s attention.
In 1954, following WW II and the Korean War, the day’s scope was expanded with the name change to Veterans Day to honor all those who had served. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill on June 1, 1954.
But sometimes it seems like we Americans can’t leave things alone. As part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 (guaranteed three-day weekends), Veterans Day moved to the fourth Monday of October. Calmer heads prevailed, on the holiday was permanently returned to 11/11 in 1978 (It was a Wednesday this year).
All About Service
Veterans Day has always celebrated the service of all Americans who have served in the military. It’s an important definition – there are three separate holidays in the U.S. honoring members of the military. Memorial Day, on the last Monday of May, is dedicated to military personnel who died in the line of duty or of injuries sustained in the line of duty. Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday of May, celebrates currently serving active-duty members of all branches of the military.
Veterans Day honors all those who previously served in the U.S. military – living or dead, in war or peace.
In other words, it’s all about willingness to serve. When a man or woman joins one of the branches of the military, he or she normally doesn’t know whether they will be asked to fight for their country (except for times of war). The point is, they are willing to stand up to protect our way of life, our freedoms.
They are willing to serve, and to serve their country.
All About Sacrifice
Sacrificing the opportunity to pursue a career in order to protect the community is something worth a lot of thanks from us. Think of all the wives, children, mothers and fathers who sacrifice the closeness of their soldier, sailor, or airman as they serve – that’s service too.
These men and women wearing the uniforms of our country, those willing to make the greatest sacrifice of giving up their lives in our defense when called, are visible examples of the concept of service to the community. They certainly deserve a day – a Veterans Day.
So Many Others
Military service is an example, but it is far from the only way to serve our community, our country. There are the first responders, wearing the police and firefighter uniforms protecting us here at home. There are the doctors, nurses and medical support teams working to keep the community healthy. There are the teachers, educating our youngsters to protect our future.
Look around, and you’ll see that most of your neighbors and friends are sacrificing and serving to make our communities better places to live to work, to play. We’ve recently seen just one example – the public works employees and their fellow workers toiling tirelessly to protect homes and lives from flooding. You know, I know, they weren’t out there just for a paycheck.
Service is the Sunstone Way! And I thank you for your service – especially those who have worn our country’s uniform. They are Sunstones, one and all.
And remember to always be a Sunstone too.
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone
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Sunstone Investment Group, headquartered in Southern California, is the holding company for the Sunstone family of entities, including: Sunstone Investment Management Services, responsible for administrative services; Sunstone Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser, which oversees Sunstone Venture Partners LLC, a private capital fund manager; Sunstone Cities, a government economic development consulting firm; and Sunstone Community Fund, a charitable organization that supports entrepreneurship. Sunstone is dedicated to enriching lives through investment, entrepreneurship, and community.
The information and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the Sunstone Investment Group and are provided for informational purposes only. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any security or financial product. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. Readers are encouraged to consult with their own legal, tax, and financial advisers before making any investment decisions.
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