Thank veterans for their service

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of a bitter war, the Allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, Frances, bringing World War I to a close.

One year later, on Nov. 11, 1919, the United States government set aside Nov. 11 as Armistice Day to remember the sacrifices made by men and women during World War I.

In 1953, townspeople in Emporia, Kan., called the holiday Veterans Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town. Soon after, Congress passsed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman renaming the federal holiday to Veterans Day.

The following information was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

There are 26.4 million veterans in the United States; a ratio of about one in eight U.S. civilians. The following is based on single-race reporting.

? Six percent of civilian veterans are women.

? Thirty-seven percent of civilian veterans are more than 65 years old.

? Approximately 2.6 million civilian veterans are black.

? Approximately 22.6 million civilian veterans are white.

? Approximately 1.1 million civilian veterans are Hispanic.

? Approximately 284,000 civilian veterans are Asian.

? Approximately 196,000 civilian veterans are Alaska native or Native American.

The reason I bring up the above information is because we, as Americans, have traditionally stepped forward in times of need, willing to sacrifice our very lives to protect our collective way of life in this country. To this very day, we have Americans of every race serving in hostile and isolated locations around the world.

Please stop the veterans you know, give them a hug and tell them "thank you" for their service to this great nation because, without them, our freedoms would be lost.

For more information about Ed, check him out at www.NWEES.com.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the CEO of Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.