Guest Editorial: Veterans Day: Honoring our heroes, cherishing our freedom

By C.V. Samuel
Every year on November 11, Americans observe Veterans Day to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
It is a day to recognize their courage, dedication, and sacrifices in protecting our nation and preserving the freedom we enjoy today.
The history of Veterans Day dates back to World War I. The fighting officially ended with an armistice on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to honor all American veterans who served during both wartime and peacetime.
Throughout our nation’s history, millions of Americans have answered the call to serve. Many endured separation from their families, dangerous conditions, physical injuries, and emotional hardships. Some never returned home. Their sacrifices remind us that freedom is never free and should never be taken for granted.
While parades, ceremonies, and patriotic gatherings are meaningful ways to observe this day, our gratitude should go beyond November 11.
Veterans deserve our continued respect, proper health care, housing, employment opportunities, and support as they adjust to civilian life.
We must also remember the families who share the burdens and sacrifices of military service.
Veterans Day honors all who have served in the Armed Forces, while Memorial Day, observed in May, specifically remembers those who died while serving our country. Both occasions remind us of the sacrifices made by generations of Americans to protect our freedom.

My gratitude
As an Indian American citizen for more than four decades, I would like to share a personal experience that has made Veterans Day especially meaningful to me.
During the early 1980s, I volunteered every Saturday morning at a soup kitchen in inner-city Detroit. I often took my two young children, Shibu, then 12, and Shoba, 10, with me. The soup kitchen was organized and operated by the Sisters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, who faithfully provided warm meals to hundreds of homeless and needy people.
I was deeply touched by the Sisters’ faith and dedication. They never knew how many volunteers would come each Saturday, but they placed their work in God’s hands through prayer, trusting Him to provide the help they needed. Volunteers always seemed to come forward.
Among those who came for a warm meal were many military veterans. As I got to know them, I learned that some had no permanent homes, while others struggled with physical or mental disabilities and the challenges of finding safe, affordable housing. I often felt these men and women, who had once served our nation, deserved dignity, security, and a place to call home.
I contacted the Veterans Administration and several organizations that assist veterans with housing. Through their cooperation, I was able to help many find suitable homes. What began as a small act of volunteer service gradually became a lasting commitment.
Even today, these agencies contact me when a veteran needs help finding housing. I consider it a privilege to continue helping whenever I can. Today, a few veterans are also living in my own rental properties.
Looking back, I feel truly blessed to have made a small difference in the lives of those who once served our country. To me, this has never been just volunteer work. It is my personal way of expressing gratitude and fulfilling my responsibility as an American citizen.

A nation’s gratitude should never be forgotten
Veterans Day is more than a holiday or a patriotic ceremony. It is a reminder that those who once stood to protect our nation deserve our support, compassion, and respect today. We may not all wear a military uniform, but each of us can honor our veterans through simple acts of kindness, service, and gratitude.
Let us never forget their courage, their sacrifices, or the families who stood beside them. They once stood for our nation; now it is our turn to stand for them and be kind.
To every veteran, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your love of country. May God bless our veterans, their families, and the United States of America!
Posted Nov. 6, 2026