On Veteran’s Day

In 2002, I received this message by email. After reading it again, I thought the message was still very much appropriate for today and wanted to share. You tell me.

On Veterans Day
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2002 ­ Up until the 1960s veterans groups used the red poppy as the symbol of Veterans Day. In Great Britain, it still is.

The symbol comes from a poem written by a Canadian doctor John M. McCrae in 1915:

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.”

McCrae tended to the first victims of a German chemical attack on the British line at the Belgian town of Ypres during World War I. The fields of Flanders, where some of the most horrific battles occurred, are now dotted with cemeteries filled with the war dead. If you fly across France and Belgium, you can still see the remains of the trench systems of the war.

The Great War of 1914 to 1918, called the first modern global conflict, was an enormous divide for the world. Millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen died in the conflict. Millions more civilians were also killed or died of disease. It truly was a world war. Men fought in Turkey, the Balkans, East Africa and the Middle East as well as in Russia and France. The war caused the Russian czar to fall and allowed Vladimir Lenin to build what would become the Soviet Union.

On Nov. 11, 1918, that war came to an end. At 11 a.m. the shooting stopped. A war that saw 20,000 British “Tommies” die in 20 minutes at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was over. The war that saw 1,384,000 French “poilus” die, ended in the trenches that extended from Switzerland to the Belgian coast. Americans, who joined the war in 1917, lost more than 100,000 soldiers in the fighting.

The Germans had signed an armistice with the allies and to the generations of The Great War, Nov. 11 remains Armistice Day. For decades, veterans sold paper poppies to raise money for memorials and for the families of those who died in the war.

But The Great War was not, as President Woodrow Wilson hoped, “the war to end all wars.” World War II rose from its ashes, and millions more died to stop the mad dreams of dictators from 1939 to 1945. The U.S. Congress changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all veterans after more blood was spilled during the Korean conflict to halt aggression.

Congress moved Veterans Day, along with most other federal holidays, to be celebrated on the closest Monday to the traditional date. But soon Congress reversed itself on Veterans Day because of public pressure to honor the powerful symbolism of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Along with two world wars and Korea, Americans and their allies have fought and died in Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.

Today, the United States’ armed forces confront enemies around the world. U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen defend freedom on station wherever, whenever they are called. Those serving today are ensuring that they do not ignore the final verse of McCrae’s poem:

“Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

Today our Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and Marines still fight to preserve those freedoms we hold so near and dear to our very core.

I received an email today from a fellow vet and retiree. This great soldier and I retired form the Army at about the same time. He is getting ready to deploy as a DoD Civilian. When that happens, he will be one more of MANY that I have come to know going in harm’s way.

In his email today, he reminds us that even though we may have “Slept in”, it’s not just a day to do so. He reminds us that we need not beleive what we see in the media (Tv and print news). Because we are not losing in Iraq. The fact of the matter is, for those that pay ayttention, we are gaining ground. Yes, men and women have died. However, and this is importatant, the enemy is being defeated. The enemy is being beaten there, so as to keep them from attacking us here.

Form your own opinion. After all that’s what we love about this Nation. Keep faith WITH our veterans, past and present. I know I will. My faith in our leadership, in our military, and in our resolve to end this is not blind. My faith is informed.

So remember, even though you may has slept late, as I did, hang your flag, as I did. Hold a moment in your hearts to remember our Veterans, as I did. Remember most of all, the sacrifices our fighting men and women have endured to make our world safe.

Happy Veteran’s Day

I think this day, Veteran’s Day, is one of our most important Holidays. You should spend a little time watching this video. It will only take a pittance of time, and once you do watch it, you’ll understand why I think so. It was produced in Canada, but the message is CLEAR, the message is STRONG, and the message is ON TARGET.

If you haven’t done so, please see what Pam has put together for Veteran’s Day. GREAT job. HOOAH!!
Also, check out ROFASix and his tribute to “The Greatest Generation”.

As I visit other sites today, I will link them here. After this day is over, I will put all of this on a special “Veteran’s Day” page on the sidebar.

Other Tributes:
Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah’s Military Guys
Blackfive
Barb — Righty in a Lefty State
The Daily Brief
Soldiers’ Angel Holly Aho
John Noonan: The Officers’ Club
The Partamian Report
Pettifog
The Lauging Wolf
North American Patriot: Our Day At Fort York; A Matter of Valour; Much too important to languish in the comments…; and This Day Belongs to Them.
The Stars and Stripes
Michelle Malkin
The Truth Laid Bear
Peakah’s Provocations
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Military.com
American Dinosaur
INDC Journal: Scenes from Arlington
Down For Repairs
VFW Mississippi
American Soldier
Defense Link: Women Veterans Tell What Veterans Day Means to Them
ROFASix: 11 November 1885 — Birthday of a Warrior
IAMO: A Hero’s Story for Veteran’s Day
IAMO: Veterans, Thanks
Danz Family
Thunde6

4 Comments

1. Thank you for remembering Veterans Day; many have served and lost their lives (literally or through loss accrued while on Active Duty). It is important to stop and reflect upon this day, regardless of political affiliation or personal belief!

   Comment by Carey — November 11, 2005 @ 12:33 pm | Edit This

2. Wondrous post for this day by one of the owners of the group this day is for. Thank You for this post and Thank You for your service!

   Comment by chrys — November 11, 2005 @ 2:33 pm | Edit This

3. I appreciate the kind words and the link my friend…

   Happy Veterans Day brah.

   Comment by Peakah — November 11, 2005 @ 6:59 pm | Edit This

4. Thank you for your service, and for the link.

   Comment by Laughing Wolf — November 12, 2005 @ 4:45 am | Edit This

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