UAW Supports Our Veterans

Today is the annual observation of Veteran’s Day across the United States. This day is set a side in remembrance of those men and women who have served our country to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. This year’s Veteran’s Day draws a little more attention given the fact that we have troops deployed to the Middle East serving in an official capacity of war time. President Bush declared the end of major combat on May 1, 2003, but there have been 259 military personnel killed since that time. That is an average of 1.3 U.S. deaths a day.

The UAW is proud support of our troops; after all it is America’s working class that has fought the wars. The UAW is proud of our veterans and the sacrifice that has been given.
Our members also build much of the equipment that is used by our armed forces and we take great pride in this. All across the country today, UAW locals everywhere will be observing the day in honor of our veterans.

Huntsville, Alabama is home to Redstone Arsenal and the Marshal Space Center. They are proud of the military heritage of the city and host one of the largest Veteran’s Day Parades in the south. Local 2195 in Athens, Alabama and Local 1413 in Huntsville, Alabama always take part in this parade to show the UAW’s heritage with the military. The Veteran’s Committees of these two locals represent the entire membership in this prestigious parade.

In 1926, Congress passed a resolution honoring November 11 as Armistice Day to remember those who served during World War I. This day was chosen based on the fact that World War I ended on November 11, 1918, signifying the end of fighting at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, on the eleventh month. World War I was called “the war to end all wars.” Sadly enough, World War II broke out 23 years later for the United States.

It seemed there is no war to end all wars. A total of 16,500,000 Americans took part in World War II with 470,000 of them dying in service. The graveyards of Europe are solemn reminders of the sacrifices that were given, as hundreds of thousands of white crosses mark the final resting place of those brave young men and women who died to defend the world.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation declaring November 11 as Veteran’s Day, in honor of all who had served their country. Just as World War I was proceeded by World War II, those 470,000 deaths would not be enough to preserve our freedoms. In 1968, the date was changed to the fourth Monday in October. However, November 11 held too much historical significance and the date was returned to November 11 in 1978.

As of September 30, 2003 there had been a total of 1,189,413 U.S. service men and women who have died while on active duty. A total of 42,348,460 Americans have served in the military since the founding of our nation.

The UAW is proud of all our Veterans!