Veterans Day 2025

The following is an article from the National Office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, edited and submitted by Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297 Commander Bill Tawater.

Next week, we will be recognizing the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a date that will forever be etched in the tapestry of our nation’s story.

Like about 60 other veterans from within and outside Wahkiakum County, I am a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I’ve buttoned up our nation’s uniform, and I know what it means to answer the call. On a day like this, I want to share what Veterans Day truly means, not just to me but to the promise of America.

Veterans Day is not just another federal holiday. It is also not a day we confuse with Memorial Day. This day is for the living. It is an opportunity for a grateful nation to recognize and celebrate every single individual who has worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces in war or in peace, on active duty or in the Reserve, from the day they first raised their right hand to this very moment. It is an opportunity for our nation to pause gratefully and say with a united voice, "Your service matters, we remember your sacrifice, and we honor the promise we made to you."

We have a tapestry of American heroes. From the veterans of World War II and Korea, to those who served in Vietnam, to the warriors of the Gulf, the Balkans, and the post-9/11 generation who have fought continuous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and across the globe, the fighting spirit of service spans generations. Veterans Day is about honoring the sailor on the sea, the Marine fighting in any clime and place, the soldier holding the line, the airman owning the skies, the Coast Guardsman standing watch on our shores, and the Guardians protecting the skies and beyond.

Every member of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force has left the comforts of home and the warmth of loved ones behind to uphold and defend our American way of life. Our military men and women, along with their families, bear the burden of that separation - that loneliness - to face down an ever-present risk. Veterans Day is about recognizing their choice to place country above self. On Veterans Day, we must also pause and remember those whose names we no longer call out loud. We hold in our hearts the memory of every man and woman who paid the ultimate sacrifice and whose service ended too soon.

We will never forget the nearly 81,000 Americans who are still unaccounted for; our prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action. Their sacrifice remains an open wound and, until every hero is accounted for, we will keep the candle burning. We will continue to advocate, and we will never allow their banner to fade. Under the VFW’s watch, they will not be forgotten.

In 2026, our nation will celebrate a monumental milestone: the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. A quarter millennium. Our freedom, our democracy, our very existence as a republic is one to be proud of and celebrate. It is the direct result of the courage and commitment of the generations of heroes who have risen to protect our democracy and freedom through every challenge, every war and every threat.

As we approach this special landmark birthday, let us reflect on the true meaning of the service and sacrifice we honor today. Every time a service member stepped forward they made a contract with America. Veterans Day is our opportunity to tell them, “The contract is valid, the debt is real, and America will continue to honor the contract.”

When you see a veteran, thank them; but, more importantly, listen to them. Support organizations like the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corp League, and many others that stand ready to help them. Advocate for their care and commit, in your own life, to preserving the ideals for which they fought.

To the citizens of our great nation, I thank you for remembering the true cost of freedom. To my brothers and sisters-in-arms - and veterans all around the world - I wish you a happy Veterans Day and a sincere and heartfelt “Thank You.”