JBER honors community veterans

  • Published
  • By Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Flags were plentiful. A large American flag took up most of one wall in between a Humvee and a fire truck in the two-story room; as people entered the building, many wore the symbol of American freedom on their shirts and hats. The symbol has another meaning - remembering those who salute it.
The Alaska Army National Guard hosted a Veterans Day ceremony at the AKARNG armory and the Royal Canadian Air Force hosted a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 11.

"It was awesome," said Dawn Bundick, department president of Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Navy veteran of 10 years. "We are remembering the [service members] who have gone before us, and also the ones who are coming after us. As a veteran myself, I'm always trying to encourage people to remember them."

Hundreds of veterans and their families attended both ceremonies, which included music, speeches, presentation of awards and wreaths, and the Veterans Day statement from President Barack Obama.

"Since the birth of our nation, American patriots have stepped forward to serve our country and defend our way of life," Obama's statement said. "With honor and distinction, generations of servicemen and women have taken up arms to win our independence, preserve our union, and secure our freedom. 

"On Veterans Day, we salute the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who have rendered the highest service any American can offer, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling our commitment to all those who serve in our name. Today, we are reminded of our solemn obligation: to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. As we continue our responsible drawdown from the war in Afghanistan and more members of our military return to civilian life, we must support their transition and make sure they have access to the resources and benefits they have earned."

Veteran's Day ceremonies across the country honored service members, past and present. In the U.S., the holiday started at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, signifying the end of the First World War, a day that became known as 'Armistice Day.'

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations," proclaimed President Woodrow Wilson in November, 1919.

During World War II, 39 acres on Fort Richardson were used as a temporary burial site for deceased service members of any nationality. Many deceased Soldiers were returned to their families at Fort Richardson under an international program for the return of war dead. Some remained buried there because the next of kin could not be found, or at their loved ones request. The cemetery was made a permanent site in December 1946.

In June of 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress made an amendment replacing 'Armistice' with 'Veterans' and November 11th was proclaimed by President Dwight Eisenhower to be a day to honor American veterans of all wars. The term veteran comes from the Old English phrase 'old, experienced Soldier'.

"I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veteran's Day," Eisenhower wrote in a letter to Harvey Higley, Administrator of Veterans Affairs, designating him chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee in 1954. "It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day .... I have every confidence that our nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veteran's Day, 1954."

In 1984, the Fort Richardson Post Cemetery became the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The cemetery is traditionally used for a variety of events, including hosting Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, which is intended to honor the fallen; Veterans Day honors living veterans for their dedicated service to their country. Service members must often leave their loved ones for extended periods, even while at their home station, in order to serve their country, sacrifices shared by their loved ones.

In 1921, an American Soldiers - his name 'known but to God' - was buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington. The Arlington National Cemetery burial site of this unknown World War I Soldier became the personification of dignity and reverence for America's veterans.
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an 'unknown Soldier' was buried in each nation's highest place of honor.

Each Nov. 11th at 11 a.m., a color guard honors America's war dead during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. There, the President, or his representative, places a wreath. Military tradition follows their example in Veterans Day ceremonies across the country.

In Canada, Remembrance Day is also celebrated, honoring Canadians who have died in the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Afghanistan and peacekeeping duties. The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth.

The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Each year, the Royal Canadian Legion raises awareness and funds by offering replica poppies for a contribution that Canadians might wear as a sign of unity and Remembrance.

"Part of this commemoration today is to remind the community around us that our veterans are unique," said Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Mike Bridges, acting adjutant general and commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "They took an oath of service, they volunteered to put their lives on the line in service to our nation, our states and communities, to protect freedom where we live. That's why we commemorate Veterans Days. This is to celebrate and remember their veterans, whatever service they were part of."

"The idea of remembrance is not only about recognizing the sacrifices of the past, it's also about continuing to work towards a better future," said Verdie Bowen, State Veterans Affairs director. "The world is a much-changed place, the nature of the threat even more changed. The line between the home front and the international front has vanished. We pause at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month for those who have made that sacrifice. We'll pay tribute to their memory, and we'll also remember those who endure at home, their lives and the lives of their families forever changed. Inspired by their memory, guided by their example, we renew our pledge to continue to defend our values and this country we are proud to serve."

Many veterans have been content to serve in silence and not seek the benefits available to them today, he said. When people give their oath, they are invisible. They go to initial entry training and disappear into the mix. They put on a uniform and it's easy to see their name, rank, their branch of service, what their accomplishments have been, and what schools they've been to. But when they retire or separate, they take all that off and tend to disappear into the community again, Bowen said.

He described situations in which he'd known people all his life without realizing they'd served in the military, and had then helped them get VA benefits. They simply didn't talk about it much and hadn't used any of the available benefits. Their families often didn't know much about their sponsor's military service, the state VA director said.

People need to get to know veterans in the Anchorage community and learn their stories of service, he said. There are 22 million veterans in the VA database.

"I bet you we don't know 22 million names today," Bowen said. "Honor them and learn their stories."