I’m sitting in my office today. I could have taken Veteran’s Day off it is recognized by the company I’m working for these days. It’s actually the first company that I’ve worked for since I retired from the navy that recognizes this day as a holiday. I’m here because my company doesn’t recognize the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday and I didn’t want to take any vacation time.
Anyway, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad thing to remember my friends that served and still serve in all branches of the U.S. Military. In this town I always see red, white and blue support our troops ribbons and the yellow remember our troops ribbons and I think that’s a pretty good thing. I haven’t been driving around town to see how many flags are flying today, but since this IS a military town, I’ll bet there are a bunch.
I’ve read a few things lately calling the troops over in Iraq baby killers and the like, the same kind of stuff I remember as a kid when guys were coming home from Vietnam and it really stinks. I believe (and I hope I’m right) that there is only a small majority that feel that way. I hope most people understand that the kind of garbage that happened at Abu Ghraib is not representative of our military men and women as a whole. That for the most part, they’re just regular Americans doing what they think is right for this country.
So hey, Hug a Vet Today!
I copied this from the VA website, looking for a little history on Veteran’s Day.
Official recognition of the end of the first modern global conflict — World War I - - was made in a concurrent resolution (44 Stat. 1982) enacted by Congress on June 4, 1926, with these words:
WHEREAS the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and WHEREAS the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, and the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day. "
Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the Nation's history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Veterans. " With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation " which stated:
"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
Article comments
1 - bhw
Veterans Day and Memorial Day are vastly undercelebrated for the actual reason they were made holidays. As a nation, we all tend to think of them only as an extra day off or as a day to grab a good bargain at the mall.
I was pretty pleased to hear my kindergartner explain to my son what a veteran was, though.
2 - SFC Ski
I think there may have been parades on Veteran's Day when I was very young, but I know that they are very rare now.
7 years ago I had the privilege of being in the Veteran's Day honor guard at the American military cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.
Some see the markers, and forget what the men beneath them fought and died for, we the living must reflect on that.
3 - andy marsh
We had a couple of parades here yesterday...but I think one of the neatest things I saw was on the local news last night. A local teacher gave her kids extra credit for doing something special for vets. They were on a corner in downtown Norfolk holding up signs like honk if you love vets and stuff. She did the same thing on election day. Kids were holding up signs telling people to vote.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Andy and deepest thanks to all who have served: you deserve our honor, respect and gratitude
5 - andy marsh
Honestly Eric - it was my pleasure to serve my country. I got as much out of it as I put into it. The navy sent me to more than 4000 hours worth of schools, several 7 month deployments to all parts of the world and a few friends that I'll have for a lifetime. Besides the fact that I was a punk 17 year old when I joined(now I'm a punk 45 year old)!