John, 50 years ago, while lying in a hospital bed, Jim Mayer made a promise to himself. Every year, on April 25, he would throw a “Thank God I’m Alive” party.

Jim is the U.S. Army veteran credited with coining the term “Alive Day” to mark the date a service member survived life-threatening combat injuries.

His “Alive Day” is April 25, 1969 — the day that his life almost ended after triggering a land mine in Vietnam … and the day he chose to live after having both of his legs amputated. It was a few days later, while just beginning his long journey to recovery, that Jim made that promise.

“I had really thought if I was blown up that bad that I would just end it. But it was just a 180. It was just will.”

Today, Jim’s Alive Day parties are attended by dozens — family members, friends, co-workers and veterans he has met and mentored along the way, all grateful he chose to live on that fateful day in 1969.

Not every veteran has an Alive Day like Jim, but every veteran has made sacrifices for our country — and on Veterans Day, we can honor and celebrate them. As the holiday approaches, we want to know: How will you honor veterans on Veterans Day?

Thank you for supporting DAV and our nation’s veterans.

J. Marc Burgess
DAV National Adjutant/CEO