Veterans give long after duty days

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Carol Barbknecht of Underwood remembers her growing up years in Browns Valley when her grandfather, a World War I veteran, taught her what it meant to be community minded, patriotic and giving back to society.

“Over the years I’ve learned that giving back is practiced a lot by many military veterans, long after their active duty days,” said Barbknecht during an address Tuesday afternoon at the veterans home in Fergus Falls.

Barbknecht, who currently serves as president of the Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary, said she’s always known that veterans are special people.

“Our veterans continue to serve their country and strive for peace,” she said. “They were willing to take on great hardships and change their lifestyles in order to serve their country. And with all of that, they still are willing to give back to the country they love.”

Her husband is a Vietnam veteran and their two children have served with the military overseas. And with being close to her veteran grandfather during her growing up years, Barbknecht said she feels blessed to have family members who have put country first.

Her theme as Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary president is “Pride in America and pride in our veterans.”

“Veterans benefits that include the GI Bill, home loans and other assistance aren’t benefits for our veterans,” she said. “They represent veteran rights.”

Barbknecht said it’s appropriate that Veterans Day always is celebrated on Nov. 11, no matter what time during the week.

That wasn’t always the case. At one time Veterans Day was blended with an annual three-day weekend.

On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

On Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., 1918, World War I ended.

The following year President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as Armistice Day to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the first world war — to ensure a lasting peace. Soldiers who survived marched in parades through their hometowns and veteran officers gave speeches.

“We’ve been honoring veterans for 90 years,” Barbknecht said. “We’ll always remember the sacrifices they have made.”