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.

[Billie]

Thank YOU, Old Sarge! May we salute you?

[Billie]

Good afternoon, John - dutchess should get ALL the kudos - it's her work from start to finish - it's beautiful, isn't it?

[Vigilantcitizen]

[Mama_Bear]

I've been playing in photoshop, so will post my creative effort honoring our Vets, then I need to run out and take care of some things. I will be back later this afternoon.

Thank you, Jim Robinson, for your service and for providing this place where we can come together and honor those brave men and women who have served our country.

And, thank you, Billie, for the Finest thread. :-)

((((((((louiewolf)))))))))

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Dave - hope we see some pictures of your day.

[dansangel]

I *remember* that day back in March 2003! It was the Atlanta "Support The Troops" rally. We were 25,000 strong.....wooo-hoooooooo!

Thank you ((((((VC))))))))) for that photo!

[dansangel]

*****Breathtaking**** Mama_bear!

[carlo3b]

Thank you my dear girl.. this is truly heartwarming. What a place.. AMERICA.. FReeRepublic.. and folks that respect veterans everywhere.. sigh

[Old Sarge]

Absolutely!

[azGOPgal]

What a wonderful tribute, dutchess.

I pray that God blesses our military. Past, present, and future.

[dansangel]

What a place.. AMERICA.. FReeRepublic.. and folks that respect veterans everywhere.. sigh

Aren't we just absolutely *blessed*?

(((((((Carlo)))))))))

Our dutchess did a wonderful job creating this thread, didn't she? Also, thank *you* again for posting yours. The more recognition our veterans receive, the better!

[Billie]

I just got some bad news today. A wonderful woman and soldier that I had the pleasure of knowing was killed in Iraq last week when the Black Hawk she was in was shot down. CW5 Sharon Swartworth served 26 years in the Army and was about to retire.

Thank you, CW5 Swartworth, for the ultimate sacrifice.God Bless her family and loved ones.

[Billie]

Thank you, Lori, but Dutchess did it all - help me persuade her to take my name from the 'credits' when she works so hard on these posts!

[Billie]

Good afternoon, dixie! Quite an anniversary date for your parents. :)

[dutchess]

Good to see you here...and thankyou for your beautiful and thoughtful posts as we honor our veterans.

[Billie]

Hi, carlo - always glad to see you drop in. (Of course, it always makes me want to go to the kitchen and see what I can find to snack on - am reminded of your wonderful recipes!)

[Billie]

Kay, how nice to see you today! Gosh, that flag's beautiful, isn't it.

[dutchess]

Hello lovely sistahs...boy you all are posting some beautiful graphics today.

I see my mother has learned to post (I never logged off her computer when we set it up in Florida) Hey Dutchess's mother...get your own screen name!!! (actually I'm very proud of them and my marine father)

help me persuade her to take my name from the 'credits' when she works so hard on these posts!

Old habits are hard to break....and it's sort of like a "security blanket"

[dutchess]

Hi Friends. Glad you liked the thread...but this is all about the topic.

Dave..I'm anxious to here about your day.

[dutchess]

So sorry about your news. Prayers for the soul of Sharon Swartworth and for her family and friends...