Happy Veterans Day, Charleston. 🇺🇸
Yesterday wasn’t just any Sunday. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day– a.k.a. the day set aside to honor the brave men + women who have fought to protect our country. If you didn’t celebrate yesterday, don’t worry– the holiday is nationally observed today.
The holiday (originally called “Armistice Day”) was first observed on the first anniversary of the end of WWI (Nov. 11, 1919). In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance of the day, but it wasn’t until 1938 that the day officially became a national holiday. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to “Veterans Day” to honor all veterans– not just those who served in WWI.
Fort Jackson during WWI | Photo by @fortjacksonpao
DYK:
🇺🇸 16.1 million veterans alive today have served in 1+ war
🇺🇸 ~558,000 of the Americans who fought in WWII are still alive
🇺🇸 Canada, Great Britain, Australia + France also celebrate the veterans of WWI + WWII on (or near) Nov. 11
To celebrate the holiday, we asked you to send us your favorite veterans so we could honor them today. We received a multitude of submissions of local heroes– from William H. who served in the Korean War from 1950-1953 to Edward A. who served in the Vietnam War from 1966-1968 + was buried with military honors in Beaufort National Cemetery.
Here are the heroes you think deserve special recognition this year– plus how you can celebrate locally today.
Honoring our veterans 🇺🇸
William H.
US Army
Served during the Korean War in the Germany tank division.
1950-1953
Peter A.
US Navy
Served on four ships. The last ship, the USS Dewert, went to the Persian Gulf War in 1993 and to combat against Iraq.
July 5,1976- Sept. 1,1996
Cody M.
US Army
Served two combat deployments in Afghanistan.
2012-2013 + 2014-2015
Mike B.
US Army
Served in the Middle East + Iraq
2006-2007
Edward A. (8/10/1945- 3/28/2017)
US Army
Served in the Vietnam War. Buried with Military Honors in Beaufort National Cemetery.
1966-1968
U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines to protect an Afghan man and his child after Taliban fighters open fire in town of Marjah in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 13, 2010. U.S.-led NATO troops launched a crucial offensive on Saturday against the Taliban’s last big stronghold in Afghanistan’s most violent province and were quickly thrown into a firefight with the militants. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (AFGHANISTAN)
Travis D.
USMC Sergeant
Served six total deployments to Afghanistan. 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment- Camp Lejeune NC.
2004-2013
Tye B.
US Army
Served in Kuwait.
2012
Juan C.
US Marine
Served in Iraq.
2007-2014
Tommy Sellers
US Navy
Stationed in Charleston on the USS Sellers, a destroyer.
1969-1972
How to celebrate today 🇺🇸
Seabrook Veterans Day Golf | 9:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. | $70+ | Seabrook Island Club | 3772 Seabrook Island Rd., Johns Island | $50 of the entrance fee will be donated to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center + Fisher House.
Veterans Day Ceremony | 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. | 500 N Main St., Summerville | free | Honoring the Veterans of Dorchester County. Summerville Mayor, Wiley Johnson– Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (retired)– will be the keynote speaker.
Tribute to our Veterans | 10:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. | Felix C Davis Community Center | 4800 Park Place E., North Charleston | free | The annual Veterans Day tribute hosted by the City of North Charleston will start with a story swap at 9:30 a.m., prior to the ceremony. All veterans in attendance will be recognized and receive a commemorative coin. A luncheon will follow, with a performance by “Joe’s Band,” which is comprised of local vets.
Veterans Day Celebration | 1-2:30 p.m. | Lowcountry Senior Center | 865 Riverland Dr., James Island | free | Celebrating those who served in all branches of the military. “The event pays tribute with a patriotic program that will have your toes tapping + singing along. Light refreshments will follow the performance.”
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Here at CHStoday, we want to say thank you to all of S.C.’s veterans + active duty military. There are no words to describe how much we appreciate your bravery + the sacrifices you make.
Let us know in the comments below how you plan to honor veterans today.
– The CHStoday team