According to the Center for Military History, when first adopted Veterans Day was called Armistice Day in memory of the soldiers who served during the Great War (Later WWI), a horrible war where 37 million people world wide were injured or killed.
WWI had several causes; one of which was nationalism, or feelings that ones country is better or more deserving than other countries. Nationalism can take the form of sacred displays of flags banners, slogans and national identities. I think of nationalism as being arrogant or as being excessively prideful regarding ones country to the detriment of others.
Holding these two thoughts, I plan to be historically mindful of and grateful for the services and tremendous sacrifices of those who have served and of those who are serving in the military, while rejecting displays of nationalism. Veterans day is a time to remember war's savage cost to nations and cost to individual people; it's not a time to romantically beat the drums of nationalism.
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