Veterans Day Quotes

“Serving my country was a life-changing experience for me. It was during those years that I realized the importance of commitment, dedication, honor, and discipline. I have never laughed so much; nor have I ever prayed so much. I made life-long friends. The leaders and heroes I served with helped shape me into the man I am today. I feel honored to have been a part of such a great tradition and grateful to others who have walked the same path. Thank you!”
― Steve Maraboli

“All of these things about America—the independent spirit; freedom and liberty to think, express, and act; the promise of the potential for prosperity—have all been delivered to American citizens by our Founders and Framers, and secured by American soldiers, sailors, and airmen.”
― Daniel Rundquist

“Every star in the universe represents a soul of a soldier who gave his life for the life you live today.”
― Giovannie de Sadeleer

“The Unknown Soldier

A tale to tell in bloody rhyme,
A story to last ’til the dawn of end’s time.
Of a loving boy who left dear home,
To bear his countries burdens; her honor to sow.
–A common boy, I say, who left kith and kin,

To battle der Kaiser and all that was therein.
The Arsenal of Democracy was his kind,
–To make the world safe–was their call and chime.
Trained he thus in the far army camps,
Drilled he often in the march and stamp.
Laughed he did with new found friends,
Lived they together for the noble end.

Greyish mottled images clipp’ed and hack´ed–
Black and white broke drum Ʀ…ɧ..λ..t…ʮ..m..ȿ
—marching armies off to ’ttack.
Images scratched, chopped, theatrical exaggerate,
Confetti parades, shouts of high praise
To where hell would sup and partake
with all bon hope as the transport do them take

Faded icons board the ship–
To steel them away collaged together
–joined in spirit and hip.

Timeworn humanity of once what was
To broker peace in eagles and doves.
Mortal clay in the earth but to grapple and smite
As warbirds ironed soar in heaven’s light.
All called all forward to divinities’ kept date,
Heroes all–all aces and fates.

Paris–Used to sing and play at some cards,
A common Joe everybody knew from own heart.
He could have been called ‘the kid’ by the ‘old man,’
But a common private now taking orders to stand.
Receiving letters from his shy sweet one,
Read them over and over until they faded to none.
Trained like hell with his Commander-in-Arms,
–To avoid the dangers of a most bloody harm.

Aye, this boy was mortal, true enough said,
He could be one of thousands alive but now surely dead.
How he sang and cried and ate the gruel of rations,
And grumbled as soldiers do at war’s great contagions.

Out–out to the battle this young did go,
To become a man; the world to show.

(An ocean away his mother cried so–
To return her boy safe as far as the heavens go).

Lay he down in trenched hole,
With balls bursting overhead upon the knoll.
Listened hardnfast to the “Sarge” bearing the news,
—“We’re going over soon—” was all he knew.

The whistle blew; up and over they went,
Charging the Hun, his life to be spent
(“Avoid the gas boys that’ll blister yer arse!!”).

Running through wires razored and deadened trees,
Fell he into a gouge to find in shelter of need
(They say he bayoneted one just as he–,
face to face in War’s Dance of trialed humanity).
A nameless sonnuvabitch shell then did untimely RiiiiiiiP
the field asunder in burrrstzʑ–and he tripped.
And on the field of battle’s blood did he die,
Faceless in a puddle as blurrs of ghosting men
shrieked as they were fleeing by–.

Perished he alone in the no man’s land,
Surrounded by an army of his brother’s teeming bands . . .

And a world away a mother sighed,
Listened to the rain and lay down and cried.

. . . Today lays the grave somber and white,
Guarded decades long in both the dark and the light.
Silent sentinels watch o’er and with him do walk,
Speak they neither; their duty talks.

Lone, stark sentries perform the unsmiling task,
–Guarding this one dead–at the nation’s bequest.
Cared over day and night in both rain or sun,
Present changing of the guard and their duty is done
(The changing of the guard ’tis poetry motioned
A Nation defining itself–telling of
rifles twirl-clicking under the intensest of devotions).

This poem–of The Unknown, taken thus,
Is rend eternal by Divinity’s Iron Trust.
How he, a common soldier, gained the estate
Of bearing his countries glory unto his unknown fate.
Here rests in honored glory a warrior known but to God,
Now rests he in peace from the conflict path he trod.
He is our friend, our family, brother, our mother’s son
–belongs he to us all,
For he has stood in our place–heeding God’s final call.”
― douglas laurent a

“To sacrifice anything is of great honor. To sacrifice everything is of God.”
― Todd Stocker, Becoming The Fulfilled Leader

“The atrocities of war are only overshadowed by the heroism of their dead.”
― Todd Stocker

“Remembering the martyrs and honoring the armed forces on veterans day may make you feel proud, but sustaining a tradition that conditions you to celebrate the loss of life in the name of patriotism is not something to take pride in - if anything this celebration is a brutal reminder of tribalism - of our shortfalls - of our inability to assimilate - of our failure in becoming truly civilized. Therefore, the need of the hour is, we work so that we no longer need a veterans day.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Sleepless for Society

“We should be saying, "Thank you and your family for your service"

They make tremendous sacrifices so those veterans can serve.”
― Neil Leckman

“Memorial Day Sonnet

We don't want your celebration,
We don't want you to honor us.
All we want is for you to grow up,
And end all tribalism that kills us.
A thousand holidays can't bring us back,
Nor can they wipe the tears of our spouses.
How will you console our children,
How will you comfort our broken parents!
Enough with your flowers and rituals,
Enough with your crocodile care!
If you have an iota of humanity,
Step up and make all divides disappear.
Yet if you still want to live life as tribal,
Rest assured we'll give ours with a smile.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Mucize Insan: When The World is Family

“Civilized beings take responsibility for the conflicts of the world and actively work towards a future that needs no 24/7 military, rather than accepting the death of a soldier as the norm and celebrating it as a glorious occasion.”
― Abhijit Naskar

“Bless the brave and courageous. We honor those that sacrificed their lives. Let us affirm now that in our future, such courage can be utilized to changing our world for the better and not for war.

Thanking all the servicemen, women and K-9 that have given the ultimate sacrifice for your country.”
― Eileen Anglin, The Path of the White Rose Book of Prayers Invocations for Healing, Creating Miracles for Ourselve

“I was in search
but could not find the missing
until I saw the field of poppies”
― Nanette L. Avery

“Service is the call of our existence...THANK YOU GOD!”
― Dr. Tracey Bond

“There exists men and women of valor who take on the mantel of warrior, dress in the uniform that declares their commit to our nation and the principles that it embodies, and who step into battles to defend that nation and guard those principles. And may their valor, commit, and bravery shame us sufficiency that we might crush the bane of entitlement, banish the scourge of greed, and reject any lesser things that would make us less than what these men and women have chosen to be.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

“I have done things that haunt me at night so you can sleep in peace.

I have been away from my family for a long time so you can be safe with yours.

I have sacrificed a lot in my life so you can live in freedom.

I have done these things because I raised my right hand and took an oath to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so you didn’t have to.

I will live by this oath until the day I die because I am, and always will be, a ”
― Brian Reese

“I have done things that haunt me at night so you can sleep in peace. I have been away from my family for a long time so you can be safe with yours. I have sacrificed a lot in my life so you can live in freedom. I have done these things because I raised my right hand and took an oath to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so you didn’t have to. I will live by this oath until the day I die because I am, and always will be, a Veteran.”
― Brian Reese

“Veterans Day is a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who chose to serve. It is our privilege and duty to honor them, not merely in words but through our actions, embodying the values they fought to preserve: integrity, commitment, and unity. Let us lead with gratitude and ensure their legacy inspires our path forward”
― Farshad Asl