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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2020)
2C COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL November 2019 a salute to all who serve T he staff of the Cottage Grove Sentinel is pleased to present this spe- cial 2020 Veterans Day edition in honor of our men and women in uniform. Th is publication would not be possible without the input of the servicemen and women of the Cottage Grove area and their families. We sincerely hope readers enjoy the tales of military service presented in these pages, and further hope that these stories may inspire community mem- bers to seek out the veterans in our midst, to off er thanks and lend an ear to hear their amazing stories. A day to honor all veterans Th e month of November is a special time for the nation’s veter- ans. While Memorial Day honors fallen soldiers and service people, Veteran’s Day, which takes place each November, is an opportunity to commemorate the eff orts of all who have been in the armed forc- es, with a special emphasis on liv- ing veterans. While people are encouraged to thank veterans throughout the year, Veteran’s Day is a particularly poignant time to show your appre- ciation for the men and women of the military. Veteran’s Day takes place on No- vember 11 and marks an import- ant moment in history. On Nov. 11, 1918, World War I, known at the time as “Th e Great War,” un- offi cially ended when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostili- ties, took place between Germany and the Allied nations on the elev- enth hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. World War I ended on paper when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. In No- vember 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the fi rst commemoration of Armistice Day, according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Veterans Aff airs. Armistice Day became a feder- al holiday in the United States in 1938. However, aft er subsequent wars, including World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ service organizations lobbied for Armi- stice Day to be revised so it would be more inclusive of all veterans. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to strike the word “Ar- mistice” from the holiday’s name in favor of “Veterans.” Since then, Nov. 11 has been known as “Vet- erans Day” and has honored veter- ans of all wars. Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October for roughly seven years under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which sought to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating certain national holi- days on Mondays. But since Nov. 11 bore such signifi cance, many states disapproved and continued to observe the holiday on Nov. 11. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed leg- islation to return the observation of Veterans Day to Nov. 11 begin- ning in 1978. Should the day fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal gov- ernment observes the holiday on the previous Friday or following Mon- day, respectively, according to History.com. Th e United States isn’t the only country to celebrate its veterans. Canada, Great Britain, Australia and France also commemorate the vet- erans of World War I and II on or near Nov. 11 as Remembrance Day or Remembrance Sunday. 3 unique ways to give back to service members Service members and their families make many sacrifi c- es to protect the lives and freedoms of their fellow citi- zens. Th e following are three unique ways to give back to these selfl ess men and wom- en, who oft en benefi t greatly from even the simplest of gestures. Visit a veterans hospital Contact a local veterans’ hospital to inquire about their volunteer programs. Th e U.S. Department of Vet- erans Aff airs notes that each year more than 75,000 vol- unteers spend more than 11 million hours in service to America’s veterans. Visiting veterans at the hospital to hear their stories can lift their spirits and aid in their recoveries. In addition, veterans’ hospitals may have volunteer opportunities that make it easier for hospitals to for Heroes, an organization assistance. Consider starting operate at optimal capacity. that places service dogs with a locally-based group for fel- veterans, has helped many low members of their com- Help a neighbor veterans successfully cope munity who want to pitch in Many service members with PTSD. By sponsoring a to help local veterans. Such return from missions with service dog, people can pro- a group can make it easier disabilities, some of which vide an invaluable service to to share information and prevent them from driving. men and women fi ghting to arrange help for veterans in Adults who want to help regain their quality of life. need. service members can serve Many people who want to Th ere are many ways for as drivers for veterans. Such help local veterans might not ordinary citizens to show a gesture ensures they won’t be able to do so more than their support for the brave miss any appointments with one day per week. But some people who selfl essly serve in doctors or physical thera- veterans may require daily the military. pists, helping them get on the road to recovery that much Cottage Grove American Legion Post #32 quicker. Sponsor a service dog A signifi cant percentage of veterans return home with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has been linked to a host of con- ditions, including depression and anxiety. However, pro- grams such as Companions Thank you Veterans! SOUTH LANE COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE This Veteran’s Day We Thank You for Your Service! Call 541-942-4493 for info. FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911 Serving South Lane County. Salutes all of our Veterans on November 11th, 2020 826 W. Main St. Cottage Grove, Or 97424 We salute those who have served, and those who presently serve, for their courage and dedication to a strong and free America. Thank you for protecting our citizens and our country. www.southlanefi re.org Veterans… thank you for your service! On November 11th, Cascade Home Center is offering a FREE t-shirt and Triple Award Points to Veterans enrolled in our Veteran’s Discount Program who stop by. (Valid Veteran’s I.D. is required) UMPQUA BANK 625 East Gibbs • Cottage Grove • 541-942-9122 541-942-1301 Cottage Grove 541-895-4166 Creswell Emerald Valley Armory, LLC Thank You Veterans Handguns • Long Rifles Concealed Carry Classes Tues. - Sat. 10-6 147 E. Oregon Ave. Creswell, OR 97426 541-895-2666
