Proclaimed by President Wilson in 1919, this day was originally known as Armistice Day. Wilson commemorated the day with the following words, "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..."

In 1938, legislation was passed to make the 11th of November an official Federal Holiday

Later, in 1954, President Eisenhower signed Public Law 380, changing the word "armistice" to "Veterans," thus giving us the Veterans Day holiday that we have today.

Recently, through one of our clients at Ascendant, I've had the privilege to work on a great project supporting our military families- The Joining Forces Community Challenge. This Challenge, issued by the First Lady and Dr. Biden in April of this year, is a national initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families. The Challenge was establish to recognize and celebrate those who are dedicated to improving the lives of military families, and spark action from all sectors of our society. We have seen citizens, communities, schools, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and many others of all shapes and sizes that support our military families. It has been fantastic to see the level of dedication from the many who serve those who have served our country.

Initiatives such as this, showing our support for Veterans and military families, are an important contribution to the military community. In addition to the actual support these organizations provide, it also demonstrates the country's commitment and respect for those who have served.

We can all play a role in honoring our Veterans on this holiday by simply saying "thank you." It could be on the street, in a grocery store, or at a football game, but a "thank you" can go a long way. So, from all of us here at Ascendant, thank you to our Veterans!

If you'd like to learn more about the Veterans Day activities, follow this link to the Department of Veterans Affairs website. There is also a video celebrating those who have served.

Have a great Veterans Day!