Veterans Day
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, November 9, 2026 (Donate)
And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose
us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of
the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him,
and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the
hill….
So Joshua defeated Amalek and his
people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for
a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I
will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:9-10,
13-14 , NKJV)
God told Moses, with General Joshua listening, to write a memorial
after a battle with the evil Amalek tribe. A remembrance or a memorial is essentially
like a holiday to commemorate or remember those who fought in the battle/war or
soldiers who have fallen.
Our modern Veterans Day is no different. My dad was a
veteran (Marine). I have many friends and relatives who also served in the military
too. So what is Veterans Day and why is it different from other patriotic holidays?
What Is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is an American national holiday
celebrated annually on November 11 to honor the men and women who have served
in the United States Armed Forces. Its purpose is to recognize veterans from
all military branches, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space
Force, and Coast Guard.
Unlike holidays commemorating particular battles or wars, Veterans
Day recognizes all who have served honorably, whether during wartime
or peacetime. It is an opportunity for Americans to express our gratitude for
their service, sacrifices, and commitment to defending the nation.
Interestingly, the correct spelling is "Veterans Day,"
without an apostrophe, because the holiday honors all veterans rather than
belonging to them. Furthermore, if November 11 falls on weekend, then Veterans
Day is usually honored on the following Monday.
Other nations have days like this too. In Australia and New
Zealand, they have ANZAC Day (April 25). Canada, UK, Australia and
others have Remembrance Day and France still has Armistice Day—all
of which are also November 11 (recall this goes back to the ending of WWI so it
is a special day for many of our allies).
What Is the History of Veterans Day?
Veterans Day originated following World War I. On
November 11, 1918, an armistice between Germany and the Allied powers took
effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, ending
the fighting on the Western Front.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice
Day, recognizing the sacrifices of American soldiers and celebrating the
restoration of peace. Congress officially established Armistice Day as a
federal holiday in 1938.
Following World War II and the Korean War, Americans
recognized the need to honor veterans from additional conflicts. In 1954,
President Dwight D. Eisenhower (and former supreme commander of allied forces
in WWII) signed legislation changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day,
expanding its recognition to veterans of all American wars.
In 1968, Congress passed legislation moving the observance
to the fourth Monday in October, beginning in 1971. However, it was restored to
November 11 as the official date in 1978.
How Is Veterans Day Different From Other Patriotic
Holidays?
Although we have several American holidays that recognize
military service and national history, each technically have a distinct
purpose.
- Veterans
Day (November 11): Honors all American military veterans, especially
those still living.
- Memorial
Day (Last Monday in May): Remembers military personnel who died while
serving their country.
- Pearl
Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7): With a two-fold purpose, it commemorates
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 by (1) remembering those who were
killed and (2) honoring the survivors. I used to work maintenance in a bus
garage with an elderly gent who was a survivor from Pearl Harbor—and he
had lost his hearing in one ear.
- Independence
Day (July 4): Honors our independence and the signing of the
Declaration of Independence in 1776 which secured the USA’s separation
from Great Britain.
A point of note that confuses a lot of people, is that Veterans
Day is designed for us to show gratitude to those who served or serve in
military service, while Memorial Day is about remembrance of those who
died in service.
What Can You Do on Veterans Day?
Americans can honor veterans in several meaningful ways, I suggest:
- Thank
veterans personally for their military service.
- Attend
Veterans Day parades, ceremonies, or memorial services.
- Display
the American flag respectfully.
- Visit
veterans in hospitals, retirement communities, or in local churches.
- Support
charitable organizations assisting wounded, disabled, or homeless
veterans.
- Teach
children about American military history and the sacrifices made to
preserve freedom.
- Pray
for veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families.
Conclusion
Veterans Day should help us remember that the
freedoms we enjoy have often required tremendous sacrifice. From the
Revolutionary War to modern military operations, generations of Americans have
served their country with courage and dedication. We owe them a thanks for
doing their duty.
Gratitude shouldn’t be limited to one day, November 11. Nevertheless,
it provides a special opportunity to honor veterans, remember their
contributions, and express appreciation for their willingness to serve. Freedom
should never be taken for granted, nor should those who have served to defend
it.
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending
6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working
at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as
well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in
2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a
501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in
churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees
from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught
at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of
undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did
research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of
titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test
Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science was coupled with a love of history,
philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and
updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr.
Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in
these fields.
