MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The close to 400,000 veterans around MacDill Air Force Base give all something to commemorate this Veterans Day.
In recognition of both past and present service members, the children of Gen. Clarence Tinker K-8 School held a Veterans Day program on base Nov. 10, 2016. The program let students perform for veterans and pay homage to their service and sacrifice. Guest speaker, retired Navy command chief Johnny Robinette, spoke to what Veterans Day means and how to pay it forward to Veterans.
In addition, MacDill honored Veterans Day with a ceremony at the base flag pole Nov. 8, 2016. Col. Patrick Miller, commander of the 6th Mission Support Group, opened the ceremony, addressing the wing with a speech about Veterans in the Tampa Bay community and the unsung heroes we see every day, and honor guardsmen from the base honor guard closed the ceremony with a flag fold and retreat ceremony.
“The brave men and women who serve and protect the United States come from all walks of life; they are parents, children and grandparents, said Miller. “They are friends, neighbors and coworkers, and an important part of their communities.”
In 1919, former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. That’s because on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour of 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allied nations and Germany declaring the end of World War I.
Seven years later in 1926, congress formally requested President Calvin Coolidge observe the holiday with appropriate ceremonies, and on Nov. 11, 1938, the first observance of the holiday took place.
The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954, making it an official holiday to recognize all living veterans.
Today, we pay tribute across the country to those who have served and those currently serving. Each year, events, ceremonies and parades take place to celebrate veterans of the U.S. military.
Team MacDill honors all who donned the uniform in service to our country and thanks those who continue to serve.