Veterans have left their mark on the enduring freedoms that we share. This week, as we celebrate Veterans Day and honor the memory of those who served, it is a good time to reflect on what their contributions have meant for us all.
For some, the military instills a lifelong commitment to service. The dedication of those veterans and their families is a true reflection of our national character. The stories of these veterans and their families can help us understand how our enduring freedoms are made possible.
Overcast skies and blustery winds did not dampen the spirits of those attending a Veterans Day ceremony in the Village of Barrington, Illinois. A crowd of civilians and veterans listened as village president Karen Darch and Captain Michael Ariola, 85th Army Reserve Support Command, spoke of the importance of honoring the country’s heroes.
VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) recently launched a “Find A Veteran, Post A Tribute” campaign to raise awareness of the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM). VLM is a digital platform that memorializes the more than 3.7 million Veterans interred in the country’s national cemeteries. The website allows family and friends to create a tribute page for a Veteran, with the option of sharing the page via social media. VLM partners include Carry The Load, a nonprofit organization dedicated to remembering and honoring America’s Veterans; Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; and the Boy Scouts of America.
The campaign aims to encourage veterans and their families to add personal tributes to the more than 700,000 pages on the VLM site. Families can request a webpage for their loved ones by providing their service member’s name, branch of service, rank and date of death, as well as a photo or the service branch seal if a photo is not available.