Veterans Day message to Soldiers

[Dan]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 8, 2005) --

On this Veterans Day, we honor all Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen for selflessly serving our Nation.

The history of the United States is replete with stories of Americans who displayed the steadfast courage that defines our country. Today, the brave men and women of our Armed Forces continue that legacy as they write history in the war on terror.

Nov. 11 has long been a day of reflection on the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. From Woodrow Wilson’s 1919 proclamation of Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the 83rd United States Congress changing the name to Veterans Day in the aftermath of World War II, we have retained the noble purpose of the day — to express gratitude to our servicemen and women.

We salute our 25 million living veterans, and like President Wilson, have “solemn pride in the heroism” of those who died in service to this great Nation.

We stand as proudly beside our Soldiers as did President Wilson and the Americans of his generation. Your sacrifices have preserved for people around the world the same blessings of freedom and the limitless opportunity that we enjoy in the United States today.

May each of you have a safe Veterans Day. May God bless the men and women in our Army. And may God continue to bless our great nation.

Signed,

Kenneth O. Preston
Sergeant Major of the Army

Peter J. Schoomaker
General, US Army
Chief of Staff

Francis J. Harvey
Secretary of the Army