LRMC Team Members Reflect on Service, Sacrifice, and the Meaning of Veterans Day

LANDSTUHL, Germany — Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize the men and women who served in the U.S. military, from those who fought in the nation’s wars to those whose service took place during peacetime. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the experiences, sacrifices and lasting bonds that connect generations of service members.

Observed annually on Nov. 11, Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. In 1954, following advocacy by veterans’ organizations, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name of the holiday from ‘Armistice Day’ to Veterans Day. This change expanded the holiday’s name to Veterans Day and expanding its purpose to honor American veterans of all wars.

For Sgt. 1st Class Terrance Jones, noncommission officer in charge of the Simulation Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the day is about remembering those who served before him, the people he served with, the veterans who are no longer with us.

“Veterans Day is really about connection and remembrance,” Jones said. “It is a quiet moment to honor the giants who paved the way before us, to picture the faces of the incredible men and women I’ve had the privilege to serve alongside, and to hold space for the teammates who are no longer with us. It also brings a deep sense of gratitude for my own journey and what I have been able to accomplish during my time in uniform.”

Jones said military service is defined not only by missions or equipment, but also by the relationships built in barracks, training areas, and medical facilities. Those relationships and shared standards are passed down from one generation of service members to the next.

"When I look at the young Soldiers coming through the Sim Center today, I see that same spark and dedication I had when I came in,” Jones said. “We aren't just training them for the next mission; we are honoring the standard of excellence that those before us set, ensuring the legacy of care and duty at LRMC remains unbroken."

For Jones, Veterans Day brings to mind a close friend from one of his deployments. After returning, his friend struggled but did not initially seek help. He eventually left the military and faced a difficult period before getting help with veteran resources that helped him begin to recover, Jones said.

“When Veterans Day comes around, my mind instantly goes to a close friend of mine that I deployed with back in 2007,” Jones said. “When we got back, he was carrying a lot of weight and really struggling, but instead of reaching out for help, which is still so hard for many of us to do, he decided to leave the military and he ended up in a really dark place for a long time. It took years, but he eventually got connected with the right resources and started to heal.”

Jones said his friend’s experience reinforced the importance of supporting service members and veterans beyond a single holiday and enduring that they can find help when they need it.

For retired Navy Lt. Kenneth Davis, a former Navy Nurse Corps officer at LRMC, the transition from military service to civilian life brought a different perspective on the meaning of service. After spending much of his career caring for service members and their families, retirement meant finding a new way to define his purpose.

"When you spend decades in a Navy nursing uniform, your entire identity is wrapped up in taking care of service members and their families, and treated with respect and dignity,” Davis said. “When you finally retire and take that uniform off, it’s a strange, quiet feeling and that transition is not as difficult when you have a plan.”

Davis said he once found it difficult to accept expressions of gratitude for his service, viewing his work as simply doing his job. With time, he said, he has learned to appreciate those acknowledgements.

"Veterans Day isn’t about bragging, store discounts, or free meals," Davis said. "It’s about selfless service and being willing to lay down your life for others. I feel incredibly honored and lucky to have served my country first in uniform, and then as a Department of Defense civilian nurse here at LRMC. I'll always be proud to be a part of that legacy."

Others serving at LRMC said they view Veterans Day primarily as a time to recognize those who served before them.

Sgt. Elliot Rico, a noncommissioned officer in the LRMC command group, said he approaches the day with humility and does not yet personally identify with the title of a veteran.

“Honestly, I don’t really look at myself as a veteran and I don’t feel like I’ve earned that title just yet,” Rico said. “To me, a veteran is someone who has given a lifetime to this mission or completed their journey in uniform. In a few years, after I have contributed more to the Army and supported the Soldiers in my care, I will feel ready to call myself a veteran. But for now, my focus is simply on providing the best possible health care and honoring those who paved the way.”

Staff Sgt. Weijing Zhang, noncommission officer in charge of the LRMC adjutant office, expressed a similar sense of humility. She said her military service is rooted in gratitude for the opportunities her family found in the Unted States.

“I came from an immigrant background, and like so many others, I just wanted to build a better life for my family and do something truly meaningful for this country,” Zhang said. “To me, the American Dream is not just something you receive, it is something you protect and serving in the military is my way of paying it forward and saying, 'thank you' to the nation that welcomed us.”

Zhang said Veterans Day reminds her that the military community included people from many backgrounds, united by a commitment to serve and defend the country.

The experiences of Jones, Davis, Rico and Zhang reflect different states and perspectives of military service: a career still unfolding, a transition into retirement, the memory of a fellow service member’s struggles and the gratitude of someone who chose to service the country that welcomed her family.

Veterans Day also serves as a reminder that the responsibility to care for service members and veterans continues throughout the year. Today’s military members face demanding training schedules, deployments, humanitarian missions, and other responsibilities that can affect them and their families long after a mission ends.

"Veterans Day isn't just a date on the calendar or a chance to look back at history," said Col. Charles Douglas, LRMC deputy commander. "It’s a living reminder of the promise we make to the nation and to each. Every single day at LRMC, our team of veterans, active-duty service members, and dedicated civilians carries that torch forward.”

Douglas challenged the LRMC team to honor those who served before them by continuing to provide quality care, supporting their fellow service members, and maintaining the medical center’s commitment to its patients.

“As I mark my last Veterans Day in uniform, I’m reflecting on what comes next and what will stay with me,” Douglas said. “The shared commitment, lifelong friendships and lessons of service will always be part of who I am.”

He stated that he sees that same enduring spirit in veterans everywhere, who continue to lift up their communities as parents, neighbors, mentors, and colleagues.

“I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of serving and for everyone who trusted and stood by me along the way,” Douglas said. “My uniform might change, but my mission to find ways to be useful to others never will.”

For the LRMC community, Veterans Day recognizes more than a moment in history. It honors the people whose service shaped the military, those who continue to serve, and the families and teammates who stand beside them.

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