It is widely known that the conclusion of World War I was established by the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919. However, the carnage ended long before that, “on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.” That day, November 11th, 1918 would become known as Armistice Day: the day the fighting stopped.
Armistice Day became an official American holiday in 1938, as congress wished to honor the fallen and living soldiers who served in World War I. Yet World War II began the next year, and the Korean War followed shortly after its conclusion. So on June 1st, 1954, Armistice Day was recoined “Veterans Day,” and would become a date set aside to remember the sacrifices of all American veterans.
Today, PatrioticMe would like to honor those men and women. Although we mourn the lives that have been lost on the fields of battle, it is important that we not forget the countless sacrifices made by those veterans who were fortunate enough to survive the conflicts in which they served.
Currently, there are 17.4 million living veterans in the United States. Many of them suffer from physical injuries, and even more are plagued by the psychological trauma inflicted by the sheer terror that is war. It is projected that anywhere from 11 to 20 percent of veterans deal with the side effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This disorder prevents them from forming healthy social relationships, causes them to have low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, and a range of other struggles. PTSD is just the beginning. There are numerous, unique challenges that each and every veteran faces on a day-to-day basis.
In an effort to increase support for those who have served, PatrioticMe has recently partnered with Tunnel to Towers. Tunnel to Towers was initially founded in honor of Stephen Siller, a firefighter who sacrificed his life to save others in the aftermath of the Twin Tower attacks. Today, Tunnel to Towers partners with companies and organizations across America, raising funds for programs that help and support military and first responder families. The benefits of these programs range from making home alterations for disabled service members to relieving the financial stress of mortgage payments for families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.
PatrioticMe is dedicating a small portion of each patriotic t-shirt purchase to Tunnel to Towers. Yet if you would like to directly donate, visit https://tunnel2towers.org/. It is important that America shows its gratitude for those who have made sacrifices to ensure our freedoms. Care at Veteran-focused facilities across the country is often deemed inadequate, hindered by low-funding and improper resources. This is not necessarily the fault of the facilities. It simply comes down to the fact that there are so many veterans who each endure a unique struggle. Thus, each patriotic t-shirt you purchase helps ease that burden.
With that being said, thank you to all those who have served to protect our freedoms, and our deepest sympathies go out to the families of those lost in the line of duty.
