Remembering Our Veterans
By: Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International
I recently had the opportunity to visit the site in Maryland of the U.S. Civil War’s heaviest one-day battle. The Battle of Antietam was a turning point in so many ways for our, at the time, young nation. The visit was timely in the context of this election year, and the transfer of power that is now under way following this week’s election.
The Battle of Antietam was significant for the Union. With its victory, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Today, Antietam is a place of solemn reflection for the 1.1 million wounded and the loss of 620,000 in the Civil War.
Only 56 years later in 1919, at the conclusion of World War I, the nations in “the war to end all wars” came together to globally mark Armistice Day on the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1954, November 11th of each year became known as Veterans Day
