There aren’t many days in the year that are more important than November 11th, Veterans Day.

Of course, November 11th is also known as the end of the first World War, also commonly known as Remembrance Day.

In either case, this day every year is a special day to honor all the men and women in uniform who fight or have fought for our freedom, and it also gives all of us a chance to reflect on their bold choices and be incredibly thankful for every sacrifice they’ve made – whether it was in the past, present or in the times still to come.

Even though we should honor and celebrate the life of veterans and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, Veterans Day can also be a tragic reminder of how horrific wars can be.

Across the whole country, numerous events and ceremonies are set up in honor of the military.

It’s a very serene and serious thing, and the tradition states that the President of the United Station gives the start for all ceremonies. That’s when the entire country can pay its respects.

“The most solemn ceremonies occur when the president of the United States, or the president’s designee, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the national observance of Memorial Day, Veterans Day or some other special occasion. Ceremonial wreath layings also occur during state visits of foreign dignitaries, who pay formal respects to the sacrifices of America’s veterans by placing a wreath before the Tomb,” the Arlington Cemetary website reads.

There’s actually a name for this special and annual occurrence, the “Wreath Laying Ceremony”. It has been a tradition that has gone on for ages and is most definitely amongst the most respected traditions in the country.

“Offering flowers at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world, symbolizing the beauty and brevity of life. Floral tributes are made each day at Arlington National Cemetery — at funeral services, public ceremonies and individual visits to a loved one’s gravesite.”

One of the most important pieces in all of this is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Tragically, a lot of soldiers who lose their lives in battle were never recovered or identified and as such, have gone unnamed.

Not knowing what happened to your loved ones must be incredibly tough. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is meant to pay respects to those in uniform who have passed away and that they will always remain in the country’s debt and gratitude.

A short video clip that was taken a few years ago shows just how serious and respected these ceremonies are.

There’s a permanent guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, just to make sure that the monument stays in good shape and no one messes with it.

The guard is also there to make sure that every visitor treats the sacred place respectfully.

One day, the soldier was patrolling and saw a group of people who were cracking up jokes and laughing obnoxiously at the memorial.

We’re sure that these folks didn’t have any malicious intent, but there were certainly better places to joke around and it wasn’t particularly respectful.

The guard then turns around swiftly, and shouts to the group:

“It is requested that everyone maintains a level of silence and respect!”

In an instant, the laughter disappeared and tranquility was restored.

The footage has gone viral on YouTube, and it just shows that respect and honor should always be highlighted, especially when it comes to veterans.

Watch the video below!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: chaleco86 – YouTube, Arlington Cemetary