JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served in the military, which is important to remember in a city like Jacksonville that is home to more than 78,000 veterans.
The holiday, which used to be referred to as “Armistice Day,” officially became “Veterans Day” in 1954 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation designating Nov. 11 as the day where all servicemembers are recognized as opposed to solely celebrating the end of World War I fighting.
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News4JAX visited American Legion Post 88 on the federal holiday to hear from Jacksonville’s veterans about what this day means to them.
Among those interviewed were Dale Compton, an Army veteran and vice commander of Post 88; Alexa Burke, who has served 10 years in the Air Force; and Jerry Nowak, a Navy veteran.
Alexa Burke said Veterans Day “helps remind the general public what we go through and pushes us forward that what we do is noticed.”
Dale Compton described the day as “the commitment to my brothers and my sisters who have served the time that we committed to the military, to serve our country.”
Jerry Nowak shared a personal connection.
“It means a lot to me as a veteran because my dad, first of all, was a veteran. That’s one of the reasons I went into the Navy.”
The veterans also emphasized the value of having a place like the American Legion to come together.
Dale Compton said, “Here, with the American Legion and other veteran organizations, you have an opportunity to speak to like-minded individuals that have experienced the same things that you’ve experienced.”
Jerry Nowak added, “We share stories. We come out and support one another. Somebody’s sick. We’re ailing. We pray for them. We’re one big family working together.”
Alexa Burke echoed this sense of community: “No matter who I’m sitting next to or who I come across here, we can relate on something. We can talk, we can share stories. I know they have my back. It’s a giant family in here. That’s why I love coming here, and I’m part of it.”
To all veterans in Jacksonville and beyond, thank you for your service.