Membership Corner - November 16, 2015

Rotary Clubs Honor Veterans

By Tom Sturiale

Each year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we celebrate and honor all the veterans - those alive and those who sacrificed their lives - throughout our history. November 11 was once honored as Armistice Day, the day on which the “war to end all wars” ended in the surrender of Germany to the allies in 1918 in a small railroad car in Compeigne, France. Twenty-two years later, a vengeful Germany forced a humiliated France to surrender after only six weeks of war in the very same railroad car – so began World War II and so much for the “war to end all wars.”

Since that time, millions more young Americans served our country in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other areas. In order to honor more appropriately their service, Armistice Day was converted to Veteran\s Day in 1975, to begin officially in 1978, by President Gerald Ford.

World War One ended 13 years after Paul Harris, with three other gentlemen, began the Rotary movement, which was aimed at correcting the ills of the world, developing our communities into better places, and serving others above self. During the next 105 years Rotary developed into the world’s largest humanitarian organization with 1.2 million Rotarians in almost every country.

Of Rotary's five Avenues of Service, Community Service is the one on which Rotary Clubs spend most of their time and energy. Of course, the other Avenues of Service are equally important as we also devote resources toward Club Service, International Service, Vocational Service and Youth Service.

Within the realm of Community Service, there are many constituents including the poor, the hungry, the sick, the indigent, the elderly, the needy, countless community-service organizations, and the veterans. Do we spend enough time thinking about how to help and assist veterans? Many return from foreign battlefields in need of a helping hand, a job, or simply our thanks for a job well done. Many return with deep scars - either mental or physical, or both - and need our help. Every community has a population of veterans whom should be recognized and appreciated.

This month, the Rotary clubs in Acton-Boxborough, Auburn and Southborough organized breakfast or dinner events honoring veterans. Other Rotary clubs held similar events honoring veterans. Honoring our veterans is a wonderful way to serve our communities. It is a way for Rotary clubs to be recognized as servants of the community. And it is a way for our clubs to improve their public relations and to attract prospective Rotarians.

Let us resolve to increase our focus on veterans next - and every year.

Please let me know any ideas, comments and stories about Membership you would like to share. E-mail me at tsturiale36 @gmail.com.

Tom Sturiale is vice chair of District 7910's Membership Committee.

Here are the Membership Corner articles that were posted during October: