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!

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[smokeyb]

God bless you all ! Thank you for all you have done !!!!!

[musical_airman]

Thanks for the ping Tonk......I'm about to call my dad and wish him a happy veteran's day now, with a sincere thank you. Thanks to you as well!

[Gabz]

Thank you for your "vanity" post.

Usually my husband talks about his dad when I ask him something (He had passed away 5 years before hubby and I met).......but not today, not any Veteran's day.

He was a CPO on a carrier during WWII and was called "pappy" because he was a bunch older than most of the boys he was serving with.

[Mama_Bear]

Would you three use your master PING Lists to convey my post above about the Golden Corral? Would really appreciate it ---

I sure will. I am happy to promote any business who supports our military and our veterans.

Pinging you all to LadyX's post #136 Golden Corral’s Fourth Annual 2004 Military Appreciation Monday. Free dinner to our nation’s military, past and present To show our thanks......Monday Night November 15, 2004 from 5-9PM

[Laurita]

Thanks for the ping! I went to the one in Augusta last year while I was at AIT.
They really were extremely nice and it was really fun getting to meet people who
were in the military long before I was born. I think they enjoyed it too. Being in
a town with a training post, they got to meet the new soldiers as well. A lot of sage
advice was given that day!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Oh man!

My kids LOVE Golden Corral!!

[shezza]

Hey, Julie...thanks for that. My boys read it this morning, as is our Veterans Day tradition, then went down to the telly to watch the President lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Are you familiar with this "response poem" entitled "We Shall Keep the Faith"? On Nov. 9, 1918, the Saturday before the Armistice was signed, Moina Belle Michael read Col. John McCrae’s poem. It made such a impression on her, that she wrote this reply to it.

We Shall Keep the Faith

Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew,
We caught the torch you threw,
And holding high we kept
The faith with those who died.

We cherish too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valour led.
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders’ fields.

And now the torch and poppy red
Wear in honour of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders’ fields.

[Mama_Bear]

Usually my husband talks about his dad when I ask him something (He had passed away 5 years before hubby and I met).......but not today, not any Veteran's day.

God only knows what he experienced.

He was a CPO on a carrier during WWII and was called "pappy" because he was a bunch older than most of the boys he was serving with.

We owe our veterans so much. Like you, I have been teary eyed all day.

[LadyX]

{{{ Hugs for My Favorite Coastie! }}}

Thanks, deadhead ---

The LadyX is signing off early.
God - please bless America and all our
sons and daughters going forth in Your Name.

[BIGLOOK]

"The bread I eat is kneaded by my spear.

By my spear my Ismaric wine is won,

Which I drink, leaning on my spear."

Archilochos

A Veteran's Day Salute to you, Tonk.

BIGLOOK

[JustAmy]

Please see post #136 and pass the word.


Thanks.

[jrewingjr]

Thank you to all you veterans who answered the call to serve and made it through many terrible experiences to keep the rest of America safe...

And many thanks to those who gave all and did not.

May we never forget.

[Gabz]

Neither my husband or I are military, nor is there a Golden Corral anywhere near us - but he passes quite a few of them when on the road for work - I'm going to ask him to stop at one Sunday or Monday with an envelope to be given to the DAV volunteers when the show up.

What a wonderful thing to be done.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks Brother

[Gabz]

We owe our veterans so much.

Yes we do.

It's been a teary day and a bit strange in other ways for me that I don't understand and so I think I'm just going to call it a night.

Thank you all for the wonderful tributes to our veterans - you really are the Finest.

I bid you all a fond goodnight.

[tuliptree76]

You've probably been pinged to this already...but take a look at post #136. Free dinner!

[tuliptree76]

Thank you for letting me know about this. I don't qualify, but I passed the word on to my parents. :-)

[jwfiv]

Miss Dutchess ... thank you immensely for this beautiful thread dedicated to those who purchase and defend our liberty with their service and lives.

God bless, dear FRiend.

[Ptarmigan]

God bless every Veteran.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you for letting me know about this. I don't qualify, but I passed the word on to my parents. :-)

Thanks, tuliptree. I think it is a wonderful thing that Golden Corral is doing and their support of our military and veterans should be known far and wide.

I don't know about others, but I always favor and patronize businesses who support the things I believe in. I won't forget what Golden Corral has done. :-)