 |
| Robert Dilenschneider |
This nation will remain the home of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
—Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information during World War II
As we mark Veterans Day, here is a thought to bear in mind: On that day a memorial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery where lie buried more than 400,000 people, the vast majority of whom served in the military. That is a sobering reminder of the debt we owe the men and women of our Armed Forces and a call to honor all those, living and dead, who have served our nation in war and peace.
Their service goes on. To help fulfill its global mission, our nation maintains some 750 foreign military bases spread across 80 nations.
Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. In the US, it is celebrated every November 11, for on that day in 1918, WW I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all those who have served their country during war or peacetime. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 because of the historical significance of the date, President Gerald Ford restored Veterans Day to November 11.
According to a Census Bureau summary, there are 16.5 million veterans in the U.S., 1.7 million of whom are female and 24.4 percent of whom are 75 or older.
Even as we honor their military service, let us remember that they continue contributing to American society long after their time on active duty. They serve as police officers, firefighters, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs and public servants. They are among the most active volunteers working in local organizations across our country. They use the lessons they’ve learned and the experiences they’ve acquired in the military to improve our communities.
And so, on this Veterans Day, let us remember the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our Country, especially those now in Veterans Hospitals. We must honor them, now more than ever, for their dedicated service to the United States of America.
***
Robert L. Dilenschneider is the Founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, an international communications firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions, to crisis communications, to marketing, government affairs and foreign media.
Nine percent of US adults think it was okay for Donald Trump to post an image depicting himself as Jesus Christ. Oh Lord!... It’s hard to shed a tear for a billionaire, especially one with a thin skin like Citadel chief Ken Griffin... A Republican group plans to support GOP candidates who want to restore foreign aid cuts made by Elon Musk's DOGE.
The death of Ted Turner, CNN's visionary founder, highlights the network's uncertain future under Paramount Skydance ownership... Anti-Defamation League reports a 33% drop in antisemitic incidents in 2025. But hold the cheers because 2025 was the third most violent year for American Jews... AI could use some PR according to Yale Youth Poll... Omnicom Media Intelligence warns that ad frequency can result in brand damage... Wall Street gives Bronx cheer to Coinbase's decision to fire about 700 people.
Struggling WPP and rampaging Omnicom have something in common. It's 6.7 percent... Nonsensical Comey indictment and Melania's war on Jimmy Kimmel are sure signs that Team Trump is falling apart... Black Rock pulls the plug on offshore wind project to please the nation's No. 1 hater of 'ugly' offshore windmills. 
“Having been born in the US” is tied for dead last in the “What does it mean to be American” survey conducted by Ipsos US Public Affairs... Defense Secretary Hegseth's boneheaded move... FTI Consulting chief Steven Gunby is the firm's $10M man... Book bans in the US near record level... Can Kevin Warsh avoid the fate of Kevin McCarthy?
Reed Hastings, the genius behind Netflix's DVD-by-mail strategy, steps down. If O'Dwyer's had a Corporate Hall of Fame, Reed would be in it... Donald Trump's revenge tour rolls on as his team strips $11M from Catholic Charities that is used to run shelters for migrant children who have entered the US alone... Crusader Pete Hegseth should lay off the biblical stuff for a while, or at least until the world has moved on from his boss’ depiction of himself as Jesus.
