Honoring Our Veterans This Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11

Dear Colleagues,

Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. We are writing to ask each of us to pause and honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, in wartime and in peacetime.

The date has deep historical roots. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, an armistice took effect between the Allied nations and Germany, and the fighting of World War I stopped. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day and called for a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. In 1954, Congress replaced the word "Armistice" with "Veterans," and November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day is not the same as Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors those who died in service, while Veterans Day honors everyone who served, including the living. The Department of Veterans Affairs describes the day's purpose as honoring America's veterans "for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good". That service often came at great personal cost: time away from families, physical and emotional wounds, and challenges that continued long after it ended. Many veterans and their families live with those sacrifices every day.

The day also has particular meaning for a law firm. Our work rests on the rule of law, the protection of individual rights, and access to justice. Those freedoms have been defended by people who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Some of them are our own colleagues, clients, friends, and family members. To every veteran at our firm, and to the military families among us, thank you.

We encourage everyone to observe the day in whatever way feels meaningful to you, for example:

• Thank a veteran. A sincere word to a colleague, neighbor, or family member who served can mean a great deal.
• Take time to reflect. Learn more about the day's history or the experiences of veterans in your own family or community.
• Attend a local event. Many communities hold parades, ceremonies, and observances each year.
• Support veterans' causes. Consider volunteering with, or giving to, an organization that serves veterans and their families, including those that provide pro bono legal help to veterans.

How you choose to honor the day is up to you. People connect to it in different ways, and every respectful form of recognition is welcome. What matters is that we treat the day with the seriousness it deserves. The war might not be popular, but our veterans serve at the President's command, and we should respect and honor them even if we disagree with the mission.

Since other lawyers might be observing the day, be mindful of calls and mail outside the office, and don’t expect those in the office to answer mail.

Thank you for joining us in honoring those who have served, and for your care and respect toward one another.

Steve on behalf of the Executive Committee.