Tomorrow is Veterans day. It always falls on the 11th of November. The original name was Armistice Day. That armistice was signed at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. That’s why November 11th. It was a temporary cessation of hostilities during World War one. It wasn’t until June 28, 1919, that the treaty of Versailles was signed ending the war.

In 1938 the holiday was officially established by presidential proclamation. It was to be celebrated and remembered, forever, as Armistice Day. Forever turned out to only last until 1954 when Eisenhower authorized the changing of the name, substituting Veteran for the word armistice. That was in response to veterans’ groups following World War two that felt they should be included in the celebration, not just the armistice. The date should honor all military veterans of the United States.

I was born in 1953 and do recall as a child hearing the old folks talking about armistice day. I also remember well the veterans selling those cloth poppies as a fund raiser. I was familiar with Flanders Field and the significance of that. And veterans were different back then; they rarely spoke of their service as far I knew. That was reserved for the smoke-filled Legion halls and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts. Those veterans were proud of their service, no doubt about that, but seldom was that pride on display.

Today I am the veteran. Having served twenty years in the Navy I did earn that designation. I have never joined any veteran’s groups. I don’t have any particular reason for that, just not interested I suppose. Perhaps in another time, another place I may have done so. I very seldom wear anything that would indicate to others that I am a veteran. No ball caps with Navy on it, no clothing or stickers on my car, nothing like that. I do use my veterans discount at Lowes and Home Depot, along with a senior discount when I can.

In the civil war there was an expression, “seeing the elephant.” It was actually a phrase that had been in use for some time. To see the elephant meant to engage in something, like a war, and see things that you had never seen before. To see the elephant was something you wanted to do, it was exciting, like exploring new territory. The downside in seeing the elephant just as often came with disappointment, sorrow and heartache. The meaning shifted a bit over time and is now thought of facing the enemy, facing great danger or death. Those that have been in combat have seen the elephant! I am not one of those people.

In my career I did meet a lot of different folks with different attitudes towards their service. I was there because I needed a job, a way forward after high school. I wasn’t destined to go to college; I wasn’t interested in getting a job at home. I didn’t know it then, but I did want to see the elephant! It wasn’t anything like I thought it was going to be. But, to make a long story short, it was a job, I was successful at that job, and the retirement benefits were excellent. I retired from that job in 1993.

Now thirty-three years later I’m writing about veterans’ day. I see advertisements on the television promising veterans all sorts of things based upon the love and appreciation of those corporations. Those corporations do include first responders, fire fighters, law enforcement and everyone related to you in some fashion. And that is because, as a veteran you are special. Doesn’t feel so special to me when everyone is included. But then again, I do not feel special in any way because of my service. I was just doing my job.

The civil war, brother fighting brother. A nation preserved. The war of 1812, one mostly forgotten and rarely spoken about. World War One, the war to end all wars! That is how that war was described. Turned out peace only lasted for four years before we had another war. The last time Congress formally declared a war was on June 5, 1942. Korea, Viet Nam, the Gulf War, Iran and all the others, not wars.

When I think of veteran’s day, I’m thinking about those veterans that have seen the elephant. Those that were engaged in combat situations with the real possibility of losing their lives. The danger was imminent. I confess to never having felt that, never saw that elephant. It’s a nagging question for me; how would I have responded. Fact is: I just don’t know. I should be grateful for that.