“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our Heroes and She-roes!” ~ Maya Angelou, 20th Century American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist.
Veterans Day, observed on November 11th, is a day to honor all who have served in the U.S. military, whether in wartime or peacetime. It’s a day to thank living veterans for their service and to recognize their invaluable contributions to national security. This federal holiday shares its roots with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which mark the end of World War I. The armistice with Germany took effect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. However, Veterans Day, as we now know it, was established in 1954 to honor all veterans.
Chances are you know a veteran, either personally or through a family member or friend. Or, you may be a veteran. Veterans and their loved ones often carry stories—many of them painful but all of them significant. You may have noticed that many historical fiction novels delve into the experiences of war. Perhaps this Veterans Day is the perfect time to join NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and document your, or your loved one’s, story. NaNoWriMo is a month-long challenge in November, where participants aim to write 50,000 words in just 30 days, finishing the rough draft of a novel. For many aspiring writers, being part of a global writing community provides the motivation needed to start and complete their stories. If this is the year you decide to write historical fiction based on real-life experiences, all the better. It’s not too late to begin.
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” ~ President Woodrow Wilson, 1919, in proclaiming Armistice Day (which would later become Veterans Day) on the anniversary of the end of World War I.