Friday was Veterans Day, and the Eagle capped its weeklong coverage with a story Monday about David Smith, Butler County’s 2022 Veteran of the Year.

Our coverage also included stories about Jim and Ed Pasqualini, of Slippery Rock Township, a father and son who are Army veterans; the renaming of a bridge which takes commuters on New Castle Road over Interstate 79 as the “Veterans of Slippery Rock Bridge”; and the opening of an exhibit at Butler Art Center showcasing portraits of and by military veterans.

Smith served 34 years in the Marine Corps, both active duty and in the reserves. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, during which he was wounded twice.

He said Saturday’s ceremony honoring him was one of his proudest moments, and he urged the public to support the nation’s veterans. “Do something for them. Shake their hands, thank them for their service,” he said.

The first celebration of Veterans Day took place in Birmingham, Ala., in 1947. Originally named “Armistice Day,” the date commemorates the 11 a.m. end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. Congress passed a bill officially titling the day “Veterans Day” in 1954.

The day allows us to honor the people who have sacrificed their lives for our country and to also give thanks to the men and women who currently serve in the military.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were roughly16.5 million veterans in the United States in 2021. Since the Revolutionary War ended, 646,596 American soldiers have died in battle. According to a study published in 2022, more than 6% of the U.S. population has served or is actively serving in the military. This statistic does not account for the sacrifices made by the families and loved ones of service members.

Too many of our veterans bear both physical and mental scars from their time of service — a consequence of active duty that often goes overlooked.

We should not only pay tribute to those who served in the military on Veterans Day, but throughout the year. Do something nice for a veteran. Thank him or her for their service.

They proudly served their country so we can have the freedoms we enjoy today.

—JGG