On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, World War I came to an end.
The armistice signed by the warring powers on that day and at that time brought an end to what contemporaries called “The Great War” — so called because the idea that humanity would ever again engage in a full-scale global conflagration seemed inconceivable.To celebrate the end of the Great War, the U.S, declared Nov. 11 to be Armistice Day. The day was also set aside to honor the soldiers who won that war.
Following the Second World War and the Korean conflict, the U.S. veteran population ballooned. Armistice Day was officially changed in 1954 to Veterans Day, so all of America’s veterans could be recognized.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 16.2 million veterans in the U.S. and about 279,00 veterans living in New Jersey. About three-quarters of these veterans saw combat.
It is well understood that military service resulted in mental and physical health issues for many military veterans; more than 4.5 million of our current veteran population hold service-connected disability status.
The most commonly reported physical conditions are tinnitus, joint problems and chronic pain. The most common mental health issues were Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression.
A 2022 report said three-quarters of American veterans experienced PTSD because of their military service and that 44 percent of veterans considered taking their own lives after joining the military.
The Department of Defense reports that the suicide rate among active military and veterans is a staggering 22 per day on average. Many veterans support organizations believe the number is higher.
The Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration and senior military leadership are not ignoring this issue. They are doing what they can, but the size and scope of the problem is overwhelming.
Now that Veterans Day is upon us, it is a good time for New Jerseyans to consider what they can do to help our struggling veterans.
We should all take the time to thank veterans for their sacrifice and service. Expressions of thanks and support are great, but actions that can improve a veteran’s quality of life — or even help save his or her life — would be greater still.
On this Veterans Day, take a few minutes to check out one of the organizations in our state that help veterans — for instance the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs or one of the local organizations in your town or county.
You will find each of these organizations is involved in a variety of programs to help veterans and it does not take a great deal of time or expense for you to support them.
Veterans Day is a good time to remember Abraham Lincoln’s caution that “any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”
