A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-11-04....Thank You, Veterans

Dutchess

[Billie]

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 11-08-04 Military Monday 11-09-04 What they're wearing to the Inaugural Ball 11-10-04 Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

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 dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

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[Billie]

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother;

Have always loved this part (but I refuse to associate it with kerry and *his* band of brothers)

Thanks for your post, MP.

[luvie]

I am so sorry to hear about your mother's passing. My prayers are with you and your family, hoping that the memories that you have of her will sustain you in these next days,months, and years. God bless you and yours.

[Billie]

Thank you, Billie ... a wonderful tribute to our Armed Forces.

Yes, it is, I agree, and am pinging dutchess so she will make sure she sees your compliment. She worked hard on this and I promised I would post it for her. :)

[luvie]

"I refuse to associate it with kerry and *his* band of brothers)"

You needn't worry about that, Billie, because, no matter what he might have called them, they were only a band of vultures and snakes that were trying to take down our GW and our way of life!!!!

[Billie]

Gail, thank you for making your post to the Finest for our Veterans Day tribute part of the hour you had at the library. Hope your ISP is back up tomorrow.

Hope you are feeling much better, too.

[Billie]

Thanks for the link, Dolly. I have to bookmark it - am having such a hard time keeping up today.

[Billie]

I saw the film - loved it, and the soundtrack, too - and also President Reagan's funeral service. I think oftentimes I take the music for granted and don't remember the words elsewhere.

[Billie]

Hey, Victoria! Good to see you. I wanted to tell you that I went to your profile page this weekend; wanted to find a photo that I could have used for Tuesday's "Fashion Show", but yours are all in black and white and none of them would work for the 'gowns' and poses I had to work with.

[luvie]

WOW! But, I couldn't listen to all of it. As a Mom with a son in the service, I just can't take the sad stuff sometimes. My son is not in harms way now, but he has dedicated his life as an officer to protect and defend, and one never knows when or where that will take place. My prayers are always with those that are in danger or are away from their families that they will stay safe!

[Billie]

My pleasure, ArmyBrat, and we'll get his picture in Group #14 coming up when I get just a few more pictures.

[Billie]

Please do, he would have loved Free Republic.

Your dad's picture is saved with the others, hopefully it won't be too long before I can put all of them together.

[Democracy In Iraq]

Please share this video military tribute with your veteran friends and family:

http://www.angelfire.com/film/coolcaddy/MilitaryTribute/download.html

[LadyX]

Oh, dear dutchess, what a beautiful tribute you put together!

The illustrations are appropriately moving -- and haunting in the stories they evoke.

I especially love this one with the figures' quiet and respectful
watch over the nation, in death as they did in life:

And the veterans-of-tomorrow-in-the-making in this,
preparing to go forth as God's appointed warriors for good:

[LadyX]

All your efforts to recognize the best of America and our military for our benefit are greatly appreciated, Rus.

This reply is beautifully and lovingly done...

[LadyX]

{{{ Loving Hugs, dutchess, and God be with you and your precious father }}}

[LadyX]

So lovely a tribute, dear dansy, and we, too, thank .45MAN.

[dansangel]

Thank *you* for your service (((((LadyX)))))))

[LadyX]

{{{ Hugs for Christian and Logan,
among our hope for tomorrow }}}

[LadyX]

Oh, Gabz - thank you so much for sharing this truly heartwarming story!!

[Billie]

Thank you, KItty. I may not be able to finish answering the rest of the posts tonight, but wanted to say hello to you. I need to finish dinner, not sure I'll get back later this evening.