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!

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[Billie]

Hat-Trick, I'm just getting back to the thread after taking a long break. Your poem is just beautiful. Many thanks for sharing it with all of us. Thank you for your service in the USCG from 1980 - 86.

[Billie]

Good afternoon thank you for your service, Rus. (Saw the 'coffee' picture you posted yesterday - so glad you found it!) :)

[Billie]

Hello! I see you are new to FR and thank you for visiting the Finest on your first day. Hope to see you again. :)

[GAAQ]

Thanks good to be here.

[Billie]

What a great post! Enjoyed it. Very powerful moment for the troops on that plane, getting to meet the President personally.

[Hat-Trick]

Thanks Billie, but can't take credit for those words. The are the lyrics to a great song, called "The Mansions of The Lord". "The Mansions of the Lord" was written by Nick Glennie-Smith, with words by Randall Wallace, for the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson. The movie version was by the United States Military Academy Glee Club and Metro Voices and is on the original soundrack. Also, it was played at the end of President Reagan's funeral service in the National Cathedral. It's a great song, done like the great, older hymms of year's past, with a great message.

[Billie]

In Flanders Fields



Always brings tears to my eyes.

[Billie]

Thank you for the beautiful post. It is much appreciated.

As are you, Finest Owl.

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Aeronaut - good to see you way up there in the wild blue yonder.

[Billie]

I shared todays thread and they were "amazed". Dad was so proud to say "my daughter did this"

I'm so glad to hear that he shared his pride in you with his friends. Hope you are safely home by now.

[Billie]

Hi, Aqua - just now getting to your post from this morning. We need to put your dad's photo in our veterans' group, don't we?

[Billie]

Your tribute is just beautiful, Dansy. (Do we have all of them in our veteran's groups?)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi everybody.

[Billie]

Afternoon, Lori. I agree. The tributes on your thread yesterday and those here today are heartwarming and also very emotional. I hope all veterans know how much their service and dedication mean to us.

I love what you did with this graphic - I think I remember the photo from an earlier thread. (I think. :) Memorial Day maybe?)

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Jersey Republican Biker Chick! Nice long screen name! :) Careful or our wolfie will be asking you to go for a spin with him on his bike. :)

Nice to have you here today, and a special thank you remembrance to your WW II grandfather from us, too.

[Billie]

danbh59@yahoo.com 

that was the only email I found...isnt it the right one?? 
thanks :)

Just pinging Dan and Dansy to let them know that you and I have gotten the email addy all worked out, and the photo you sent them is for the veteran group, rather than the Freeper Photo Album.

[Billie]

Cspan now showing Arlington Veterans Day ceremonies.

Thanks for that heads up, Meg. Hope some of the others got to watch it. :)

[Billie]

The time it must have taken to paint those remarkable images and words just boggles my mind. I had not seen the POW/veterans rock before now.

[Billie]

My son Mike, Port Security Unit, USCG, stationed in Kuwait is coming home in ONE month!!!

What wonderful news, bunches. What a joyful reunion you are going to have!

[Billie]

Oh, look how cute they are in yours and Don's 'hats'!