A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day...11-11-03....A Tribute to Our Veterans Past and Present...

Dutchess and Billie

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine

A Tribute to our Veterans...Past and Present

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, the Allied powers a signed a cease-fire agreement (an armistice) with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. The "war to end all wars" was over.

A Tribute to our Veterans The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America's veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day."

Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was "the War to end all wars," November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.

Armistice Day Changed To Honor All Veterans

An answer to the question of how to pay tribute to those who had served in this latest, great war came in a proposal made by Representative Edwin K. Rees of Kansas: Change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, and make it an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War. In 1973, a law passed providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but none was found for several years. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the others. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, The 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.

A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

National Ceremonies Held at Arlington

The focal point for official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath. The bugler plays "taps." The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater.

Someday We'll be Veterans Too...Pray for Us as We Pray for You

God Bless You..our Veterans ...thank you for your service for our country...and for being there as a support for us as we carry on your tradition...

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-10-03 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact danangel or .45man at danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[carlo3b]

What a wonderful tribute, thank you so very much.. and Thank all who risk their lives for all of us. God Bless America..

[kayak]

[dixie sass]

Semper-Fi! Love the Corp. Love those Marines!

[dixie sass]

I love that song!

[dixie sass]

26 Years! She has retired to GOD's arms.

[Diver Dave]

If I may, a personal note of thanks to the Veterans from my family...
Uncle Axel - WWI - US Army
Uncle Harry - US Navy
Uncle Elt - WWII - US Navy
Uncle Jack - WWII - US Navy
FIL George - WWII - US Navy
BIL Lou - US Navy
BIL Jim - USAF
BIL Butch - VietNam - US Army
BIL David - USAF - US Army Nationl Guard
SIL Betsy - USAF
Brother Don - VietNam - USMC
Niece Jennifer - US Army - active duty
Nephew Bryan - US Army - active duty

[dixie sass]

Received this from "ABE" Jones the author:

ONLY NUMBERS?

Two hundred, twenty-eight years
That, we have been going to war
Eleven times we said, "For freedom!"
Was, what we were fighting for.

We've spent two, point, six trillion
But that was just a petty cost
Compared to all of the spent lives
Of those loved ones, who were lost.

Thirty-two hundred plus, a month
For more than thirty-two years
The total time fighting our enemies
And more time, shedding our tears.

One and one quarter million dead
That's more than fifteen every day
Since we went to war, "For freedom!"
In our Revolutionary way.

One and one half million wounded
For this Country of the Free
Although some of these losses
Were the Union's and Confederacy.

But, all of them are Veterans
Who fought for what they believed
In their own way, doing battle
For those Freedoms, they perceived.

As of late, a Veteran's definition
Has come from a different kind of War
For which we all, are conscripted
To help guard, our Freedom's door.

Let's Honor, each and every one
And though we may not know each name
They were so much more than numbers
In every Wartime's deadly "game".

And, this November eleventh
In the year, Two Thousand Three
Let's hope someday, all People
Live in a land, where they are Free.

Let's make Veterans Day a memory
And a part of days gone past
Learn to live with our Fellowman
In a Free World at Peace, at last.

10-24-2003

[Mama_Bear]

That is a wonderful thing to do! I shall also name and thank the veterans in my family.

Husband - Jeff...US Navy
Son - Dave....Gulf War - US Navy
Father - Les...WWII - US Navy
FIL - Clyde...US Navy
BIL - Don...US Navy
BIL - Bob...US Navy
BIL - Steve...Gulf War - US Navy
Uncle - Alan...US Navy
Nephew - Mark...US Navy
Nephew - Tony...US Army
Grandfather-in-law - James...WWI France - US Army

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Dutchess.

[Aeronaut]

Self - USN 65-69
Father Henry - USN WWII
Brother Kurt - USA 66-69
Uncle Ernie - USA WWII
Aunt Norma - WAC WWII
Uncle Gene - USA WWII (Wounded on Iwo Jima)
Uncle Ken - USA WWII

Uncles Ken and Ernie had 5 boys - none served.

[.45MAN]

For all those that did not come back.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Veterans Day Ping !

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks Mama_Bear. Very nice post !!

Have a cup while you Freep !

[deadhead]

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends and THANK YOU VETERANS

[oh8eleven]

Well done.

[deadhead]

"I am thankful, particularly on this Veteran's Day, that we have this place where we can express our love and gratitude to our our country, our military and our veterans"

Well said, Mama_Bear, I share your sentiments. Beautiful thread, dutchess and Billie. Thank You so much.

To all Veterans, Thank You and God Bless you.

With respect and gratitude to our Veterans,

Colleen

[deadhead]

Thank You, oh8eleven.

[firewalk]

Good morning

Happy Veterans Day & Thank You

[dansangel]

Thank you for a most *beautiful* tribute to all of our men and women in uniform - it is so exquisitely done sistah (((((dutchess)))))!

I'd like to honor the veterans in my life:

Great Uncle Thomas Monaco - US Army WWII
Great Uncle Frank Monaco - US Army WWII - POW
Dad - Louis S. US Navy WWII
Son-In-Law Tony B. - USAF

((((((HUSBAND)))))) - .45MAN - 8 years USAF 1962-1970

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))))) to all at the Finest!