The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
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Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.
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Armistice to Veterans Day
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In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. - Source
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On this day, it seems to me that everyone in the United States ought to stop to honor, to thank, and to pray for our military men and women, the living and the dead, active or retired. We especially must see to the care of those returning from war, the sound and the wounded. They fought for us and served our country, therefore our country owes them a living, as it were: Support and proper medical and psychiatric care - including all forms of rehabilitative and restorative care they may require.
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While Martin was still a soldier at Amiens he experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. He was at the gates of the city of Amiens with his soldiers when he met a scantily dressed beggar. He impulsively cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night he dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak Martin had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clad me." (Sulpicius, ch 2). - Source
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Today I like to imagine the beggar to whom Martin gave his cloak may have been a poor, uncared for veteran. Of course this does not take away from the fact that St. Martin's act of charity was done for Christ himself. As the Saint's dream points out, and today's Communion antiphon affirms, "I tell you, anything you did for the least of my brothers, you did for me, says the Lord." (Mt 25:40)
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Art: St. Martin of Tours Photo: Unknown soldiers near Abu Graib
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