Understanding The Importance Of Veterans Day To Your Patients
As an equal-opportunity employer, Pegasus Home Health Care has built our hiring standards around diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Our professional caregivers, like our clients, are from a variety of backgrounds. Among others, we have clients who are veterans, and we hire former military nurses.
Pegasus skilled in-home caregivers in Agoura and elsewhere strive to keep each patient independent and comfortable. As well, they recognize what matters to each individual and form connections with their patients. Career home health care nurses understand the importance of Veterans Day to their patients.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday. It’s dedicated to honoring everyone who is now or was formerly a part of the American military. Veterans honored include individuals who served in peacetime or wartime, whether deceased or still alive.
Often, people regard Veterans Day as the beginning of autumn. They are unaware of what it means. Others, especially seniors. For them, Veterans Day may have a stronger significance because it honors not only those who are veterans but, friends and loved ones they may have lost.
Ask your patients what Veterans Day means to them. Their answers might surprise you. Also, learning how and why it was established will increase your understanding of how meaningful it is.
Congress Changed The Name And Meaning Of Veteran’s Day And Tried To Change The Date
November 11 of each year is designated as Veterans Day. That hasn’t always been the case, however. It was initially known as Armistice Day.
The Allies and Germany signed an armistice to end WWI. The signing took place at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. That was November 11, 1918.
The date was celebrated annually through actions by state legislatures. Congress also passed resolutions and presidential proclamations commemorating each anniversary of the signing. In 1938, Armistice Day was declared a legal holiday in the United States.
The name was changed to Veterans Day by an act of Congress in 1954. The emphasis changed from marking the end of WWI to honoring American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, Congress revised the date to the fourth Monday of each October. That date had no significance to anyone, and most states didn’t comply. Congress restored the day of observance to November 11 of each year in 1971.
You likely have patients who remember when these changes were made. Some may have been involved in the 1971 efforts to restore the meaningful date. Those events are one way to engage a veteran in conversation.
Memorial Day Isn’t The Same As Veterans Day
Another conversation starter is comparing Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both honor those who served in the military. They are, however, very different holidays.
As the name implies, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for individuals who have died in military service. It was originally called Decoration Day, due to the practice of placing flags or flowers on soldiers’ graves.
Tradition dates the beginnings of Decoration Day to May 30, 1868. There were, however, numerous observances before then. The name changed over time to Memorial Day, and in 1968 Congress established the last Monday in May as the date.
Why Is Honoring Veterans Important?
Currently, there are close to 20 million living American veterans. Of these, approximately nine million are 65 years old or older. About one and one-half million veterans live in California.
It’s entirely possible that one or more of those veterans are your patients. Certainly, at least one of your patients has family members who have served or are on active duty. You might want to help them honor their loved ones on Veterans Day.
Celebrating Veterans Day is a meaningful way to show that their service and sacrifices are valued. For the most part. Veterans Day provides a reminder of the benefits of living harmoniously with others.
Regardless of which war an individual fought in, they deserve to be honored. They demonstrated patriotism, bravery, and love for their country. They sacrificed everything for the common good.
Additionally, observing Veterans Day sets an example for the younger recruits. They need to know that others appreciate their sacrifices to keep the country strong and safe. It’s also a reminder of the necessity of defending America against ongoing threats to our democracy.
In a time when the country is torn by divisiveness, Veteran’s Day shines as a day of unity. People can put their differences aside to honor those who have kept their country free. And one of those freedoms is the ability to disagree.
One way to show your appreciation to a veteran is to listen to their stories. Every veteran has a story.
Join The Team That Emphasizes Quality Care
Pegasus professional in-home caregivers in Agoura and our other locations respect the dignity of their patients. They try to understand what’s important to them, such as Veterans Day. We encourage our career home health care nurses to be proactive in providing the best possible care for their patients.
Pegasus is a Certified Home Care Aide Organization and a Joint Commission Accredited organization. We’re recognized as an industry leader because of our consistently high-quality care. Join our team and use our abilities to help a variety of individuals remain as healthy and independent as possible.
