The 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour…
On Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day to honor and thank all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This year marks the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at Arlington National Cemetery. The Tomb was initially dedicated by the Army on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown service member from World War I. Over the past century, the site has become a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice, and mourning.
One way we can honor our veterans for their service is through the gift of listening, particularly to the stories of our older veterans. The Veterans History Project—a project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress—“collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.”