Honoring the Greatest Generation on Veterans Day (photos)

Veterans Day, observed annually on Nov. 11, is an official U.S. public holiday that honors persons who served in the United States armed forces. Veterans of World War II, all past their 90th year, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Special guests included former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, age 93, and Friedrich St. Florian, architect of the memorial. The oldest vet in attendance was U.S. Coast Guard veteran Carroll George, age 98, of Falls Church, Virginia, who fought in Okinawa aboard the USCG Cutter Taney. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 16 million served our country in World War II. By the VA’s estimate, only 855,070 remain.

The wreath-laying ceremony was sponsored by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial. World War II veteran and author Allan Wilford Howerton was the keynote speaker. The next planned event of this type will be for the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Imperial Japan on Dec. 7, which propelled the United States into World War II and changed the course of our nation forever. The Friends of the National World War II Memorial organization is now gearing up to kick off an ambitious four-year World War II 75th Anniversary Commemoration, from Dec. 7, 2016, to Sept. 2, 2020, highlighted by “reunions, symposiums, museum exhibits, and battle anniversary ceremonies.”

*View Jeff Malet’s photos from the World War II Memorial, and from another wreath-laying ceremony at the United States Navy Memorial, by clicking on the icons below.*