Veterans Day commemorates veterans of all wars. It occurs every year in the U.S. on 11th day of the 11th month. That signaled the end of World War I in 1918 known as Armistice Day. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed it to Veterans Day.

The Civil War started on April 12, 1861. The military draft was going strong, but if one volunteered, the pay was better with a $300 bounty. Pvt. William Henry Christman was a laborer from Pocono Lake. At age 20 he enlisted as a volunteer for three years with the 67th Regiment in Pennsylvania. Company G of the 67th was raised in Carbon County with subsequent residents from Monroe, Wayne, Luzerne, Northampton, Schuylkill and Philadelphia. Pvt. Christman always sent his enlistment bonus and advance pay home to his poor parents. The 67th Regiment saw extensive action during the Civil War, and at the end, was present at Appomattox Courthouse for the surrender of the South.

On April 22, 1864, Pvt. Christman was stricken with rubella, measles and peritonitis. On May 1 he was admitted to Lincoln General Hospital located on Capitol Hill in Washington. He died on May 11, and on May 13, 1864, he was laid to rest as the first soldier buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery is home to the graves of over 400,000 men and women, most of whom served in the military.

Pvt. Christman did not have a distinguished military career, but he made the ultimate sacrifice volunteering to serve in the deadliest war in American history. He represents the courage to fight for freedom for all Americans, and love and devotion to family. He always wanted to help his family buy property and that came true when his father was able to purchase 40 acres for the family farm.

The Civil War eventually affected our Constitution, but not the hearts and souls of millions of Americans.

Pvt. Christman represents the ideals of patriotism.

Pvt. Christman was an authentic American patriot.

Debra Becker

Effort