Day Three Hundred and Ten: Ever Vigilant

This coming Wednesday is Veterans Day.

The national holiday, which honors military veterans, was first declared as Armistice Day by Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1918 following the formal ceasefire of World War I in the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month (thank you, US History class).

So, how did it come to be known as Veterans Day? That story actually has its roots in Emporia, Kansas. Click here for a brief explanation.

In Lawrence, the University of Kansas honors its war veterans every year with a 24-hour vigil held the weekend preceding the official holiday. The vigil is maintained by two ROTC students at each of the campus's three war memorials.

Tonight Emily and I caught up with two naval ROTC members keeping watch over the Vietnam War memorial.


While I originally had the idea to photograph the vigil, the suggestion to shoot a close-up picture of the officer next to the quote on the wall (the top picture) was all Emily's.

I'm glad she suggested it, because it is one of my most favorite pictures of this project. It helps to have another set of eyes for a fresh perspective!