Thank You to Our Nation’s Veterans

November 11, 2015 Veterans Day

Dr. Michele Kerulis, LCPC, CC-AASP

Our beautiful city is showered with American Flags on a daily basis. Today we also see the flags of our military branches to celebrate Veterans Day. On this special day we honor the men and women of our armed forces and acknowledge the sacrifices they made so that we can live in peace and with freedom. I thank the 700,000 Illinois veterans for their service and for giving us a safe home to provide joy and entertainment to our readers and followers.

Armistice Day was conceived after a temporary cessation of hostilities as the Allied Nations and Germany agreed to end World War I (WWI), known as “the war of all wars,” on November 11, 1918. WWI officially ended on June 28, 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. In November 1919 President Woodrow Wilson intended for Armistice Day to be a day of celebration, public meetings, parades, and a day “…filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory…” November 11 became a legal holiday in 1938 to honor the veterans of World War I and was amended in 1954 to include recognition of American veterans who were involved in all wars. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reminds us that the purpose of veterans Day is to “honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” Click here to read the full version of the Veterans Day Proclamation.

Chicago is well known for being a very friendly, hospitable, and food-friendly city. Veterans Day in Chicago means celebrating our hometown heroes with words of thanks and dining offers. We are also a city that loves to eat, and we love to feed our veterans. Check out Chicago’s list of Veterans Day Freebies  and be sure to visit your local Chicago neighborhood favorites! I would love to hear from our readers about how you celebrate Veterans Day.