Please find a way to thank a veteran today, and to remember all of those who are currently serving.

Veterans Day in the United States is in honor of all those, living and dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces. Unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who have died in wartime, Veterans Day honors all those who have served, in times of peace as well as in war.

The holiday was originally called Armistice Day, and it commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. Fighting stopped at 11 am, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

In 1919, on the first anniversary of the World War I armistice (truce), President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation expressing pride in the heroism of those who had died during the war. Business stopped for two minutes starting at 11 am, and it later became customary to observe two minutes of silence from 11 am. Many states made Armistice Day a state holiday in the 1920s and 1930s, and in 1938 the Congress of the United States declared it a federal holiday.
In 1954 the name of the holiday was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor those who had served in World War II (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953).

Today, the holiday honors all veterans. In 1968 Congress changed the date of the holiday to the fourth Monday in October to give Americans a three-day weekend. But because of the significance of November 11 to many people, the traditional date was restored by law in 1978.

Before there was Iraq and Afghanistan, there was Vietnam. Before Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, there was Verdun, the Somme and Ypres. Before that there was Gettysburg, Balls Bluff, and Manassas; Lexington, Concorde, Saratoga, and Yorktown. There were also a thousand forgotten battles in between.

Tonight I am going to a party at the Embassy where a Marine band will surely play, everyone will be dressed in Black Tie, sip champagne, and probably be talking about the war in Iraq. How many there will actually be thinking about the real reason for the day?

No matter what you do today, please don’t forget to pause for just a single moment to give thanks to those who went before, and should be remembered today.

Rob

[ November 11, 2005, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: ITJock ]

Thanks for thinking of us, IT, as we think about other Vets on the "eleventh day of the eleventh month." If anyone happens upon a group of Vets today, especially elderly ones, at a parade or just walking around wearing their poppies, please make a point of smiling and saying hello and thank you. They'll know exactly what the thanks are for and it will bring at least a moment of joy to these old heroes' lives.

This fascinating story involves Black WWI Vets and their experiences as Army musicians and "Hellfighters" in France during and after the Great War that gave rise to today's holiday.

(Memo to moderator: thread combining time?)

[ November 11, 2005, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: gmginsfo ]

I spent the morning at Arlington National Cemetery volunteering as an escort for the veteran service organizations that come each year to observe the wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the parading of the colors, music of the Air Force Band, and speeches from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the American Legion National Commander, and the Vice President.

As a relatively young veteran myself, it's moving to spend time with World War II veterans, who gave so much and asked for so little in return. I wore my Afghanistan campaign lapel ribbon, and sensed a growing bond among the younger active duty members, older veterans, and reservists/veterans like myself.

So thank you too all who have gone before for your service and sacrifice.

I'm not sure I could ever muster up the bravery that has been demonstrated by so many heros.These are/were no ordinary men and women.
I personally am very grateful for their sacrifices and at the same time tremendously sad that those sacrifices ever had to be made.Thank you to all Veterans and their families for their bravery and their unselfishness.