| Veterans
News Flash 
Veterans
Encouraged to Wear
Military Medals on Memorial
Day
A Message from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim
Nicholson
America's
veterans are the face of America. They come from
all walks of life, all ages, all ethnicities.
They served our Nation honorably and well and we
honor that service, but how do we honor the veteran – the
individual who put on the uniform and gave his
or her all for our country?
In the spring of 2006 I had the privilege of attending
the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps)
Day ceremonies in Sydney, Australia. ANZAC Day
is the most important national holiday in Australia,
a combination of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
It was established to commemorate the more than
8,000 Australians killed in the battle of Gallipoli
in World War I, and now honors all Australian and
New Zealand veterans.
One of the things that stood out during the day-long
ceremonies was how all of the veterans and surviving
family members wore their medals and campaign ribbons.
It focused public pride and attention on those
veterans as individuals with personal histories
of service and sacrifice for the common good.
That is why I am calling on America's veterans
to wear their military medals on Veterans Day,
Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Wearing their
medals demonstrates the deep pride our veterans
have in their military service and reminds all
American citizens of the sacrifices our veterans
have made.
Veterans, wear your pride on your left side on
patriotic holidays! Let America know who you are
and what you did for freedom.
Additional information about
the initiative is featured at VA's Web site at http://www.va.gov/veteranspride/,
where veterans can also learn how to replace
mislaid medals or confirm the decorations to
which they are entitled.
SOURCE:
US Department of Veterans Affair
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