VA Secretary Calls on Veterans to Wear Medals on Veterans Day

Ceremonies throughout Nation Honor Veterans’ Service

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson urged Americans to “honor our heroes” on November 11, Veterans Day, from the handful of World War I survivors to the nearly 600,000 veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“America has been blessed by having brave men and women willing to answer the call of their country,” said Nicholson, himself a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. “The 24 million surviving American veterans are models of self-sacrifice, devotion to duty and love of country.”

Nicholson also called on veterans to show their pride in their military service by wearing on Veterans Day the medals they received on active duty.  The VA Secretary said he hopes this display of military decorations, called the “Veterans Pride Initiative,” will become a traditional part of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and other patriotic observances.

On Veterans Day, Nicholson will take part in the traditional laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.  The annual event is scheduled for 11 a.m., which commemorates the official end of World War I.

Also during the Veterans Day weekend, Public Broadcasting System stations across the country plan to broadcast a special hour-long program highlighting the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival held in Rapid City, S.D., on Oct. 22.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is a year-long fine arts competition for patients at VA hospitals and clinics, many of whom use the creative arts as part of their rehabilitation.  

In addition, VA medical centers and especially the 124 VA-administered national cemeteries across the country will be holding their own local events to mark Veterans Day.  

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