On Veterans Day, city leaders honor those who continue serving their country, even out of uniform

LACONIA — As groups around the country gathered to honor the service of veterans at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, on Tuesday morning, around 80-odd Laconians did the same. 

“Veterans Day could be pretty much every day. I don’t think that everybody shows the appreciation that they feel to the importance of veterans. It’s overwhelming what the men and women of our country have done by serving, and there’s never enough gratitude shown,” Mayor Charlie St. Clair said. “I hope that, in the future and present day, politicians and government will give the support that’s needed by our veterans who have given so much, and I thank you all for that.”

“Speaking for the city, the citizens, God bless all of you so much,” St. Clair said. “And thank you so much.”

The large crowd gathered at Veterans Square on Tuesday to honor those who heeded the call to serve their country in the armed forces. 

Veterans Day is a remnant of the First World War, and pays homage to service members who made it back home. It stands in symbiotic contrast with Memorial Day, which honors those who died and sacrificed their lives in service to the country. 

The Great War ended officially on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The fighting, though, had already ended seven months earlier, when an armistice between allied nations and Germany went into effect, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Nov. 11, 1918.

To honor the significance of that moment, the modern Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11, with ceremonies usually held at 11 a.m., no matter upon which day of the week the occasion falls.

It was President Woodrow Wilson who proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in 1919, and, when the U.S. Congress finally recognized the end of World War I, on June 4, 1926, its members affirmed Nov. 11, 1918, as the marked cessation of hostilities. 

Twelve years later, in 1938, Nov. 11 became a federal holiday. The act which created it was further amended in 1954, and the word “armistice” was stricken and replaced with “veterans.”

“Together we gather in the heart of Laconia, we have the Spanish-American [War] memorial over here. That’s where the VFW basically began, it was a soup kitchen, trying to fix broken people, trying to help veterans. Honor the sacred traditions, one that binds the community, our nation, generations past, present and future,” VFW Post 1670 Commander Charles F. Reynolds IV said Tuesday morning. “Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar, it’s a living promise. It’s a promise to remember, to respect and to give thanks to all those who have worn our nation’s uniform.”

A retired first sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, Reynolds said he’s deeply humbled to address the citizens of Laconia.

“I have witnessed firsthand the strength, courage and selflessness that define our veterans, but I have also seen that these qualities are not exclusive to the battlefield — they are alive and well right here in Laconia,” he said. “Our veterans are our neighbors, our coworkers, our teachers, our friends. Their stories are woven into the very fabric of our town. They are the ones who rise to help when disaster strikes, to coach our kids’ teams, who volunteer their time and their wisdom.

“Their service to our country didn’t end when they hung up their uniforms, it continues every single day in countless quiet acts of kindness and leadership.”

Reynolds said this year, veterans and military families have faced hardships like uncertainty caused by the government shutdown and ongoing challenges in health care.

“Yet as always, our community has stepped up,” he said. “I’ve seen Laconia come together through food drives and fundraisers and simple acts of neighborliness, to lift up those who needed it most.”

Reynolds and American Legion Post 1 Commander Wayne McLean presented and laid a wreath at the memorial at Veterans Square, a time-honored tradition in recognition of the country’s war dead. Each year since 1921, when President Warren G. Harding first did so, an official wreath-laying ceremony occurs on Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

“Americans never forget, this is what Veterans Day is really about: we remember the brave, the honorable men and women who have served in our armed forces since the founding of our nation,” McLean said. “While not all veterans see combat, an expressed willingness to sacrifice one's life is a requirement. It had been part of the commitment for military services since George Washington commanded the first troops.”

About 6% of American adults today have served in the military, McLean said. 

“It is up to us to ensure that every veteran feels that his or her service to his country is appreciated by their fellow Americans,” he said. “Proud of our nation, they answered her call, defending the freedom and safety of all.”