The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”

Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle. Courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Many of us forget the significance of our federal holidays, and I hope you take a few moments to honor the sacrifice of our Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Coastguardsmen and what they have meant and what their contributions have been to the United States and her eternally grateful citizens.

Honoring the memory of our fallen is at the very core of what it is to be an American and for that I am proud, honored, and grateful. I hope you enjoy your holiday, and never forget the service of those who have defended our nation and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

God Bless,
John Campbell

My work for our Veterans and troops in the 111th Congress

Below, I have included just a few of the items I am working on to help improve the lives of our troops and their families and ensure our veterans recieve the benefits they deserve. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at one of my offices listed at the bottom of this page.

H.R. 2974: I have authored and introduced a bill that will allow veterans to contribute to health savings accounts. This bill will provide America’s veterans greater flexibility when making health care decisions. You can follow the status of this bill, H.R. 2974, online at my websiteor at thomas.loc.gov, and searching for H.R. 2974.

Quality of Life Improvements for our Troops: In the 111th Congress, I have supported legislation that will provide enhanced benefits and quality of life improvements for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and their families. These include:
• A pay raise for uniformed Department of Defense personnel,
• Funding for barracks improvements,
• Base infrastructure and maintenance,
• Funding for military housing,
• The expansion of TRICARE coverage for all reserve component members and their families 180 days prior to mobilization.

The Homefront for Heroes Act: I am a cosponsor of H.R. 707, which would ensure that members of the Armed Forces receive free-postage vouchers every month. These vouchers are transferable to family members and friends in the United States, who can then use them to mail letters and packages to our troops, postage-free. I have been actively encouraging my colleagues to ensure that this provision becomes law.

Ensuring our Veterans recieve the benefits they deserve: Whether it is bureaucratic backlog, or unwieldy obstacles for benefits, our nation’s veterans are facing significant challenges in receiving the education benefits promised to them. To help address this, I have become an original cosponsor of the Test Prep for Heroes Act of 2009. This bill will help reduce the barriers to receiving reimbursement for important tests such as the SAT, ACT, and GMAT. As you know, these tests play a major role in the college and graduate school admission process, and this bill will also allow for reimbursement of the costs of these test-prep courses. Our veterans ought to have access to these resources through the G.I. Bill benefits that they have earned.

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