Veterans Day 2015 quotes and sayings: Saying thank you to the military for their service

Veterans Day – Nov. 11, 2015 – is a day set aside to honor those who have served their country. It traces its roots back to World War I when it was known as Armistice Day. In 1954.

In its original proclamation on Armistice Day, Congress spelled out the purpose for the commemoration:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

[CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM A VIETNAM-ERA

VETERANS DAY PARADE IN THE DEEP SOUTH]

Other thoughts on Veterans Day, patriotism and courage:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." 
—John F. Kennedy

"On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free." – Dan Lipinski

"Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day." – Charles B. Rangel

"Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause." - Abraham Lincoln

"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." – Billy Graham

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" —Maya Angelou

"The young patriots now returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan and other deployments worldwide are joining the ranks of veterans to whom America owes an immense debt of gratitude." – Steve Buyer

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." —Elmer Davis

"Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." —Winston Churchill

"My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place—police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces."
—Sidney Sheldon

"I believe it is the nature of people to be heroes, given the chance." – James A. Autry

"Our veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called." – Bill Shuster

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." – George Washington

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem." – Ronald Reagan

"This year's Veterans Day celebration is especially significant as our country remains committed to fighting the War on Terror and as brave men and women are heroically defending our homeland." – John Doolittle

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. "
—Joseph Campbell

"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul." -- Michel de Montaigne

"While we can never truly repay the debt we owe our heroes, the least we should do for our brave veterans is to ensure that the government takes a proactive approach to delivering the services and benefits they have earned, so they can access the care they need and so richly deserve." – Kristen Gillibrand

"Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him."- Dwight D. Eisenhower