Honor the historic heroics of America’s armed forces this Veterans Day | Opinion
Tuesday is Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day). On this day, we remember the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, which brought an end to the “War to End All Wars.” American and Allied soldiers defeated Germany and the Central Powers in WWI. The sacrifice of our soldiers not only won the war, but brought hope for a lasting peace.
That noble goal is carried on by all those who bravely serve our country in the military, to protect our nation and help pursue that elusive lasting peace. To ultimately win peace requires more than just military strength, it requires collective strength as humanitarians.
American soldiers fight famine
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said during an Armistice Day Appeal for the Red Cross, “there can be no armistice in our war against need and human suffering.” This is an important reminder to our leaders today.
After the Armistice ending the fighting of WWI, American soldiers were part of a special unit that fought the horrible enemy of famine. Millions of people in Europe would have starved to death after WWI had it not been for the heroics of the American Relief Administration. The soldiers and civilians of this heroic force saved many lives from the severe food shortages that always accompany war.
American Relief Administration soldiers in Latvia, led by Lt. George Harrington, encountered destroyed railroad tracks while trying to transport food to the people starving to death in the city of Riga. But that did not stop U.S. soldiers. As Herbert Hoover wrote: “Lieutenant Harrington, like the real American he was, set his doughboys to recruiting labor and repairing tracks while he went ahead into Riga, and by using wagons and hand ... carts (were) able to get some food into the city.”
Women in the military
These are among some of the many unsung heroes of our veterans. This Veterans Day we should also recognize the contribution of women veterans to our armed forces.
The first woman to serve in the army was Deborah Sampson of Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Sampson disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army. She bravely served 17 months before she was discovered and discharged.
Women’s role in the military has come a long way since. During WWI, women were life-savers as nurses for those wounded on the front lines. General John Pershing called for the creation of Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, which improved communication on the Western Front. Women in this unit had to speak both French and English.
During WWII, women made a big difference on the home front and in other critical roles. For example, women pilots were a critical part of the war effort — women flew thousands of flights delivering fighter planes and other cargo to the front lines.
On Armistice Day in 1951, President Harry Truman gave special mention of the contribution of women to the military.
“Women are now serving in every branch of the Armed Forces. They serve in communications centers and supply organizations, and medical installations, and many, many other vital activities. They are continuing to do fine jobs as nurses and medical specialists. They have won for themselves a full place as regular members of our Armed Forces,” said President Harry Truman.
Since then, the role of women in the military has greatly expanded, including combat and leadership roles. Women now make up nearly 20% of active duty forces.
This year, however, it is worrying to see women being removed from leadership roles in the U.S. military and the closing of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services by the Trump administration. This committee has, for decades, provided recommendations regarding “the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being and treatment of women in the Armed Forces of the United States.” It sounds like a good idea to have this committee, and many are urging it to be restarted.
We need to support all of our veterans.
On this Veterans Day, reflect on the service of our men and women in the military. Their dedication and sacrifice gives us a chance to build a world at peace.
William Lambers is the author of “The Road to Peace.” He partnered with the United Nations World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.”
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Honor the historic heroics of America’s armed forces this Veterans Day | Opinion."