In Permian Basin, support for veterans is year-round 

There are 41 million reasons — and counting — to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11. That’s roughly the number of Americans who have served in the military in our nation’s history.  

We used to call Nov. 11 Armistice Day, a hopeful sentiment that aimed to promote world peace after World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918. After WWII proved WWI was not “the war to end all wars,” Armistice Day became Veterans Day in the U.S., a change not meant to dampen hope for world peace, but rather to recognize all Americans willing to serve their nation in that very effort. 

For people of the Permian Basin, Veterans Day is not just about recognizing what military members do for us. It’s also a recognition of the outsized role the Permian Basin played to support our military members.  

From 1942-1945, the Midland Army Airfield was transformed into a bombardier training school that graduated 6,627 bombardier officers to supply to the war effort. And it was our “magic fuel” — the high-octane aviation fuel produced right here in the Permian Basin — that gave the Allied forces a distinct tactical advantage to win WWII. 

For these reasons and more, tributes to veterans happen throughout the year in the Permian Basin. They’re common here, not just because we are grateful for our veterans, but also to let them know that we will mobilize for them when they mobilize for us.  

Check out highlights from the 31st Annual CAF High Sky Wing AIRSHO which was sponsored by Chevron, where we do just that.