A Veterans Day Salute From Black Mountain, NC
A Salute to Our Veterans-on-Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served our country. They have sacrificed so much for us, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. We pause on this day to thank them for their service and their sacrifice. We also remember the families of our veterans – the spouses and children who support them and stand by them. These families make many sacrifices of their own, and we are grateful for their service as well.
Did you know the history of Veterans Day dates back to World War I? The Armistice that ended the war was signed on November 11, 1918. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day, “a day to be dedicated to the memory of those who died in the service of their country.” In 1926, Congress passed a resolution calling for an annual observance of Armistice Day. In 1954, after WWII and the Korean War had added to the number of American dead, Congress amended the Act, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day since that time.
We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay. But we can show our appreciation by taking care of them when they return home from combat and by supporting their families while they are deployed overseas. We can also show our support by flying the flag on Veterans Day, and attending the Veterans Day Parade – small gestures that will mean so much to those who have served our country so well.
Annual Black Mountain Veterans Day Parade
This Friday, November 11th, 2022 at 2 pm at Town Square. Come out and support our local veterans. The parade is held rain or shine.
Here in Black Mountain, NC, we are fortunate to have several local places to honor our veterans year-round.
The WNC Veterans’ Cemetery in Swannanoa, NC is a place of peace and beauty, and it is a fitting tribute to our veterans. You can honor them by donating to the Wreaths Across America campaign to support the annual wreath-laying ceremony honoring those who served.
There is a Vietnam Memorial located at the Owens High School Campus. The horseshoe-shaped Vietnam Veterans Memorial recognizes all of the former students who fought in the war, and the 10 local men who died in battle. The wall around the three flagpoles holds plaques honoring each of these veterans. Another marker at the site holds the inscription “In honor of those from the Swannanoa Valley who served. And in memory of those who died.”
The Black Mountain Home for Children and Families has a Veterans Memorial Terrace located behind the dining hall at West Campus and features rockwork built by German prisoners of war during World War II. More than 100 prisoners lived in barracks there around the time the war ended. While waiting to return home, they worked on the grounds and at a nearby hospital. “We want to make the youth we serve aware of what America’s fighting men and women have done to preserve their freedoms,” said BMH President Tom Campbell. “ For a donation of $100, the public is welcome to have pavers engraved in honor of a veteran. Funds raised through the sale of pavers go to support older youth served by the ministry. More Info
The Purple Heart Pub located in Black Mountain is associated with The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The VFW is a nonprofit veteran’s service organization comprised of combat veterans and military service members from the active guard and reserve force. They have been serving local veterans since 1948. https://www.purpleheartpub.org/
To all Veterans and their families, we thank you for your valor, your sacrifices, for protecting us, and for defending our rights. Without you, we would not be the home of the free.
