I Voted in Honor of a Veteran

One week separates two important events this year—Election Day and Veterans Day. Although Election Day has passed there is a program here in Ohio that is still worth mentioning.

Ohio’s Secretary of State Jon Husted has created a program linking the two events, where we can honor our veterans while encouraging people to vote at the same time. A program where you can honor a veteran with your vote–Vote in Honor of a Veteran.

A great idea because veterans have fought for and are prepared to fight for our freedoms, one of which is our right to vote.

Vote in Honor of a Veteran is sponsored by the Office of the Ohio Secretary of State. The program was created to “recognize the service of our brave veterans and provide encouragement to our citizens to vote…”

As they describe it on their website, http://www.sos.state.oh.us/omv/VIHOV.aspx :

“Anyone who has a family member, friend or neighbor in the armed services understands the unwavering dedication and patriotism of these men and women. Through the Vote in Honor of a Veteran initiative, you can demonstrate the pride you feel for an individual veteran and, at the same time, encourage others to exercise one of our most sacred rights we have when you go to the polls on Election Day. [1]

The program is free. To pay tribute to a veteran you just provide some information about his/her military service and a brief testimonial about the veteran. If you wish you can submit a photo of the veteran. The veteran’s tribute and photo may be displayed on the website in the list of Honored Veterans.

To participate you can apply on their website [1]; or print out a card from their website, complete it and mail it to them; or call 877-sos-ohio .

After they receive the above information you will receive a nice Vote in Honor of a Veteran lapel pin. On the card that came with the pin:

Thank you for supporting the brave men and women of our armed forces. This pin is a tribute to our veterans who serve to protect the freedom and democracy we enjoy as American citizens. This pin also symbolizes the importance of voting as one of our most sacred rights, a right we enjoy as a direct result of the commitment, dedication and sacrifice made by the members of our armed forces. When you wear this pin, you not only honor the courageous work of our veterans, but you encourage others to vote on Election Day.

Vote in Honor of a Veteran, from Ohio Secretary of State.

Vote in Honor of a Veteran pin from Ohio Secretary of State.

I honored my dad on their website and you can see the tribute by going to the website [link above], click on the Read Testimonials link, and type Miller in the Find a Veteran search field.

I wore my Vote in Honor of a Veteran pin when I voted last Tuesday and then wore it at work, where several people asked about it. Although this year’s mid-term elections are over you can still pay tribute to a veteran in this program and wear the pin on the next Election Day.

This coming Tuesday is Veterans Day. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, named to commemorate of the end of World War I. Fighting between the Allied nations and Germany was ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That date is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Armistice Day was originally observed with parades, speeches, and a brief suspension of businesses beginning at 11:00 a.m.

It was made a legal holiday in 1938. The day was to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and was primarily to honor veterans of World War I. After World War II and the Korean War the word “Veterans” replaced the word “Armistice” and the holiday has been known as Veterans Day ever since. On 1 June 1954, Veterans Day became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Herb Miller, U.S. Army veteran, WWII.

Herb Miller, U.S. Army veteran, WWII.

There are several veterans in my close family. My dad, his two brothers Laverne and Kenny, and my cousin Ron Weitz are my closest veteran relatives. Joe’s brother Greg was also veteran.

A list of some of the veterans in my family is on Karen’s Chatt’s home page, in the MILITARY drop-down.

This coming Tuesday, on Veterans Day, I will remember my dad’s service to our country and the fact that that he never missed an opportunity to vote in an election.

[1] Vote in Honor of a Veteran, Jon Husted, Ohio Secretary of State, http://www.sos.state.oh.us/omv/VIHOV.aspx .

2 comments

    • Mildred Willis on November 18, 2014 at 1:47 pm
    • Reply

    I really like this idea. GA has quite a few military bases and I’d love to pass this idea on to the GA secretary
    of state. Can I just forward this email on to him? If not, please let me know what I should forward. My
    husband is a Vietnam veteran, my father in law was in WWII & Korea, plus several of my husband’s uncles
    on his Dad’s side.
    By the way this is Mildred Merkle Willis, one of your Schumm relatives.
    Hope to hear from you soon.
    Sincerely, Mildred (Millie)

    1. Hello Cousin! You could send a the Ohio website’s link to your Secretary of State, suggesting the idea. And if you want, I give you permission to copy my blog post and send it, too. Good luck and great to hear from you. Thanks for writing.

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