In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an armistice brought an end to the "war to end all wars." Nov. 11, 1919 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, but it took Congress until 1938 to make Armistice Day a federal holiday.

It is because of the people of Emporia, Kansas in 1953, who decided to call this holiday Veterans Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town that Congress changed the name of this holiday to Veteran's Day. In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared it a federal holiday to be celebrated on the second Monday in November.

This Monday is our chance to honor our Veterans. Take time to fly the flag, attend a ceremony, honor those who gave their lives for our freedom and just take time to thank a Veteran and say a prayer for those who serve and their families.

In the words of President Reagan: "We could not forget them. Even if they were not our own, we could not forget them. For all time, they are what we can only aspire to be: giving, unselfish, the epitome of human love -- to lay down one's life so that others might live."

Thank you Veterans, may God keep you close, and may the rest of us remember to thank you for our freedom.

Pam Mortenson