Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Service
At the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed
Armistice Day to honor the memory of all who served in the "war
to end all wars." Now we celebrate this holiday as Veterans Day,
an opportunity to honor those who have worn the uniform in
defense of our country. This year, in every small town and every
big city across this broad land, America will pause to thank
those who served. Our Nation is powerful, prosperous and at peace
-- due in no small part because when America called, America's
sons and daughters answered.
Today, that legacy of duty and love of country has been handed
down to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who guard our
freedom at home and abroad. Whether in the skies over Bosnia, in
the waters of the Persian Gulf, in the deserts of the Sinai and
the mountains of Macedonia, or elsewhere, they stand tall in
defense of freedom, doing the hard and dangerous work that must
be done to bring peace and stability to a troubled world.
On behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the men and women of
our Armed Forces, I am proud to salute our veterans on this
special day. May their example of service and sacrifice continue
to inspire us all, and may we always treasure the gift of freedom
they fought and, in some cases, died to preserve.
HENRY H. SHELTON, Gen., USA
Veterans Day 1998 and DoD Support
