If it were not for organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, it is a good bet that many Americans would not understand that significance of observing “the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month.” Thanks to those organizations and others, the sacrifices of American veterans is remembered each Veterans Day.

In Washington, that remembrance takes place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park on East Third Street.

On the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918, World War I effectively ended.

That occurrence is the root of the Veterans Day observance in the United States of America.

Locally, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 15, with assistance from American Legion Unit 15, presents the annual Veterans Day service at Veterans Memorial Park. Bath Elementary School has honored veterans and active-duty military personnel from the Bath area at the school for several years.

Those are formal ways to honor veterans. There are less formal ways. In an anonymous way, pay the bill for a veteran who’s eating at a local restaurant. See a Marine in uniform at Wal-Mart and do this: walk up to the Marine and simply say, “Thanks for your service.” Show up at a Veterans Day service and let your presence speak volumes without you having to say one word.

“On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 marked the moment to end all wars among wars,” said Betsey Lee Hodges, president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 15, at a Veterans Day service in 2010. “It’s a shame we only recognize Veterans Day one day out of the year. We should remember it every day, as they gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

She’s right. Our veterans deserve recognition and honor throughout the year, not just the one day set aside for doing so.

Considering the sacrifices our veterans made, the rest of us should be able to sacrifice more than just Veterans Day to honor them. It’s the least we should do.