The recent report of the bipartisan National Commission on Federal Election Reform is meeting one objective: It is stimulating public debate on how to increase voter participation while ensuring that those who do vote do not do so in vain.

One of the commission's recommendations is to make Election Day a national holiday. I doubt this will send Americans to voting booths. It's more likely to send them in pursuit of leisure activities, which is how we typically spend national holidays in this country.

We can reach a quick verdict, however, on a related suggestion: Under no circumstances should Veterans Day be hijacked for national elections. President Bush recognizes that such a move must first be sold to veterans. The White House should not waste time researching this one; the veterans and their families will never buy it.

In 1938 Congress declared November 11 Armistice Day, a legal holiday to be set aside each year to honor our World War I veterans on the anniversary of the ending of that war. In 1954, after World War II had witnessed the greatest mobilization in the nation's history and American forces had fought in Korea, Congress replaced the word "Armistice" with "Veterans" and November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In his first Veterans Day proclamation, President Eisenhower called on all Americans to "solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom."

In 1968 the historical significance of November 11 took a back seat to creating three-day weekends. Four national holidays would henceforth be celebrated on Mondays -- Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed in 1971.

It took just four years to reverse this ill-advised decision. With the support of all major veteran service organizations, President Ford signed legislation in 1975 that returned the Veterans Day observance to November 11. The historical significance of the date was preserved and attention again was focused where it belonged -- on honoring America's veterans for their patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for freedom and liberty.

On the surface, holding national elections on Veterans Day may seem logical. What could be inappropriate about casting our votes on the one day set aside each year to honor those who made it possible for Americans to cast their ballot freely?

Simply this: Every two years, the nation's focus on November 11 will be on projections, not remembrances, on political conflicts not military conflicts, and on candidates not veterans. Cameras will film the president voting rather than laying a wreath at Arlington Cemetery.

As a nation, we rightly are concerned about an apathetic electorate. We seek full participation in our democratic processes, recognizing that the nation will be stronger for it. But surely we can find ways to achieve this end without trampling on the day set aside to "remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly . . . to preserve our heritage of freedom."

America's veterans have kept us free so we can vote. Let's express our gratitude by keeping November 11 in our hearts.

The writer, a former Senate majority leader, was the Republican candidate for president in 1996 and is a veteran of World War II.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company