Blackbaud Observes November 11 in Honor of our Heroes

November 11th marks a day of profound significance and is a time when many pause to honor and remember the brave individuals who have served in their country’s armed forces. In the US this day is observed as Veterans Day, which became a federally recognized holiday in 1938, and honors the contributions and sacrifices of all veterans past and present. 

In other countries, November 11th is observed as a memorial day to remember those who died serving their country in wartime. Blackbaud employees in these countries celebrate Remembrance Day in Canada, Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom and Australia and Armistice Day in New Zealand.

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 and Remembrance Day, we pause to remember, appreciate, and respect the brave men and women who have defended the freedoms we enjoy today.