Honoring Veterans Day 2018

This is a very special Veterans Day.    According to va.gov:

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Again, according to va.gov:

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.

Although there was a great deal of confusion after the Uniform Holiday bill was passed, which gave all Federal Employees a three day weekend, many believed this undermined the true spirit of Veterans Day.  The original date was changed again to reflect the true Veterans Day.  Per va.gov:  

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Be sure to share a story or two with a vet today.  There have been all kinds of documentaries on tv this past week highlighting facts about WWI and our (U.S.) involvement.  I knew so little about this war, it is fascinating to see what led up to it and how we stayed out of the war so long.

I learned that most women didn't support weren't in favor of a war, but knew they would be called into service if war was declared.  I learned that blacks saw this as an opportunity to gain recognition by fighting in the trenches.  I learned that women who enlisted were not given benefits once they returned home from war,

and I learned Wilson, our 28th president who advocated for peace, was opposed to declaring war until it was almost too late.  In March, 1917, Teddy Roosevelt threatened to go to the White House and force Wilson to declare war.

Clearly, the U.S. is not the only country with armed forces or the desire to celebrate them.  Even the origins of Veterans Day involved the largest worldwide conflict anyone had ever seen.  Since I like to think on a global scale, here are a few other countries that observe this day.

The United Kingdom (U.K.) has some of the more elaborate celebrations to honor those who have fought for their country.  From late October up to Armistice Day on November 11, the Royal British Legion distributes 40 million poppies that people wear to commemorate those who have served in the armed forces. The celebrations are split into two days. The first is Remembrance Day, which takes place on the second Sunday of November each year. It is a day to recognize those who have lost their lives protecting the U.K. It's basically the U.K. version of Memorial Day. The U.K. also celebrates Armistice Day on Nov. 11 with a two-minute moment of silence observed at the 11th hour throughout the country.

Accordingly, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, as it is called in some places, is observed throughout many of the 52 other member countries of the Commonwealth, a political association of mostly former territories of the British Empire. These include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, just to name a few.  Like the U.K., these countries also incorporate the poppy into their celebrations.  Some of you may have followed Prince Harry's and Meghan's journey to Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand to help observe this event.

France also celebrates Armistice Day on Nov. 11.  In 2014 President Francois Hollande opened the new international memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Ablain Saint Nazaire northwest of Arras called the "Ring of Remembrance," which is a huge, bronzed stainless steel, elliptical monument that includes the names of the nearly 580,000 men who died in northern France during World War I.

The Belgians also host one of the biggest Armistice Day ceremonies. Every year since 1928, the country has put on the Last Post Ceremony. The Last Post is the name of a bugle call played in the British Army and other armies to mark the end of the day. Now it is used to remember fallen soldiers. The Last Post Ceremony takes place at Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, and it also includes a release of red poppies from the roof of Menin Gate.

 I am also sharing Day 11 with Art Every Day Month (AEDM) and honoring all those who have served our country.







I am delighted you chose to spend a few minutes in remembrance with me today.  Thank you beyond belief.