For the Love of Country: Honoring our Heroes

Jessica McRae

Blackbaud is proud to remember all who have served and sacrificed in the armed forces for their country.November 11 marks a day of profound significance and it is a time when many pause to honor and remember the brave individuals who served in their country’s armed forces. In the US, this day is observed as Veterans Day, a federally recognized holiday that honors the contributions and sacrifices of all veterans.



In other countries where our employees reside, November 11 is also known as Remembrance Day in Canada, Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom and Australia, and Armistice Day in New Zealand.



Together, we will observe this time as a memorial day remembering those who died serving their country in wartime.



A few important facts as we honor this day around the world:

• There are around 16.2 million military veterans in the United States today. This equals over 6% of the adult population. The U.S. state with the highest percentage of veterans in the population is Alaska, followed by Wyoming and Virginia.
• In Canada, the red poppy is a famous symbol of Remembrance Day. Some people wear a sprig of rosemary instead of a poppy to represent remembrance and loyalty.
• It’s estimated that approximately over 880,000 British servicemen lost their lives during WW1, over 380,000 during WW2 and over 7,000 since WW2 in military operations including the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq.
• The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia has a roof opening that allows a beam of sunlight to shine through at 11 AM and land on the Stone of Remembrance. The engraved statement on the stone reads, “Greater love hath no man.”
• Although New Zealand has joined the universal recognition of November 11th as Armistice Day, New Zealand (and Australia) officially observe April 25th as Anzac Day - the national day originally devised to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli campaign, which was their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918).

When we recognize the unique experiences of Veteran communities, we not only honor the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve, but the families who support them. This and every Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, Remembrance Sunday, and Armistice Day we pause to remember, appreciate, and respect the brave men and women who have defended the freedoms we enjoy today.

“May we never forget freedom isn’t free.” ~Unknown

Arthur Gerstein

During the Viet Nam War, I was fortunate to get into the Coast Guard and was in boot camp a couple of weeks after graduation. I was lucky to get into and lucky to stay more or less within a few hundred miles of home. Others weren’t so lucky. I constantly thank police and fire persons for their service, as well as people I meet who were deployed and saw action. we need to remember those who keep us safe and free by offering their lives to defend our constitution and way of life.

I thank Blackbaud for reminding us that our freedom has a high price tag and many have paid the ultimate price for the rest of us. We should consider this in our everyday lives, as without our defenders, we could have ended up technologically deficient and at the mercy of those who would destroy our way of life.

Thank you all who did their parts whether they volunteered or were drafted into service.