November 11 marks an important day in our nation’s history—one remembered the world over as the day when fighting between Germany and the Allied Nations finally stopped, bringing an end to World War I. The Commonwealth of Nations, led by Great Britain, declared November 11 to be Remembrance Day in observance of armed forces members lost in the line of duty. Belgium and France use the name Armistice Day to mark the end of the Great War. In the United States, we observe this date as Veterans Day—a day to remember those who have served our country.
As Veterans Day approaches once again here in the United States, U.S. Money Reserve has set aside time to reflect on the true meaning behind the holiday and the company’s ongoing commitment to commemorating those who have served our nation.
Remembering Those Who Served: The Spirit Behind Veterans Day
Originally named Armistice Day by President Wilson in 1919, Veterans Day was established as a legal holiday to remember the treaty signing that brought World War I to an end, commemorate the efforts of those who served, and honor the sacrifice of individuals who never returned home. As Wilson put it, “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.”
In 1954, nine years after the end of World War II and just one year after the end of the Korean War, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day under President Eisenhower as a way to honor all American veterans. A Veterans Day National Committee was also established to ensure national oversight and provide support services to eligible veterans.
In 1971, the federal holiday was moved to the last Monday in October. This change was met with rampant objections in most states, as the meaning behind November 11 is tied directly to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour. In defiance of the move, many continued to observe Veterans Day on November 11 until President Ford made the original date official once again in 1978. November 11 remains a somber occasion for reflection on the contributions veterans have made to freedom and safety for the United States.
U.S. Money Reserve Supports Veterans Day Through Various Initiatives.
Over the years, U.S. Money Reserve has continued to express its appreciation for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. This can be seen across a variety of programs.
U.S. Money Reserve offers exclusive coin series honoring the 75th anniversaries of the flag raising at Iwo Jima and the battle at Pearl Harbor. Part of the proceeds from the Pearl Harbor release helped fund the construction of a Lone Sailor statue in Pearl Harbor, made from metal salvaged from the USS Arizona. Other examples of appreciation include a donation by U.S. Money Reserve to WISH for OUR HEROES and co-sponsorship of a World War II Foundation documentary.
Additionally, U.S. Money Reserve continues to support veterans through its own Wings of Gratitude program. Americans from all walks of life are encouraged to share their appreciation for military service through heartfelt letters, cards, and images. “Having families send positive messages reminds our active military members and veterans that we are thinking of them, and they have our unwavering support,” said Angela Roberts, CEO of U.S. Money Reserve.
Wings of Gratitude is designed to facilitate communication between families and veterans or active service members at no cost to participants. The program is offered in conjunction with WISH for OUR HEROES, which helps military members and their families meet basic needs and fulfills personalized requests. Support and advocacy for the Wings of Gratitude program come from J. R. Martinez, Army veteran, actor, and motivational speaker.
How You Can Show Your Support This Veterans Day
Those looking to share their gratitude and support this Veterans Day can do so through Wings of Gratitude. The platform is designed to collect and send messages of support, encouragement, and thanks. Submissions are curated by mail or digital inboxes and then forwarded to military service members and veterans around the globe. Positive messages can mean a world of difference for active-duty service men and women who face hardships or are separated from their loved ones. Showing gratitude for our veterans is a pivotal part of demonstrating that their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.
More ideas for Veterans Day activities and appreciation from U.S. Money Reserve include attending parades, ceremonies, or flag raisings. Local Veterans Affairs offices are also a great resource since many schedule programs or provide regular opportunities for the community to give back or get involved. In addition, the Directory of Veterans Service Organizations provides a listing of regional and national groups that may be open to volunteering, donations, or vendors.
Other options may include:
- Wearing a red poppy as a show of support
- Participating in the national two minutes of silence
- Shopping from a veteran-owned business
- Sending a military care kit via the U.S. Postal Service
Join U.S. Money Reserve this Veterans Day in honoring those who have served our country. Learn more about Wings of Gratitude and how you can support the program’s goal of sending 10,000 messages.
About U.S. Money Reserve, America’s Gold Authority®
U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation’s largest private distributors of government-issued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.
Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world’s largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign government–issued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium legal-tender products. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals, primarily in the form of legal-tender gold and silver coins.
U.S. Money Reserve’s uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with the market knowledge to find products for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas. Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow on Twitter.
