[ back ]
What do you know about Veterans Day?
(by Luigi Luciano - November 15, 2007)
As we just celebrated Veteran’s day November 11 I had a thought. How many people, especially younger ones, know what Veterans Day is? Why do we celebrate it? It saddens me that we do not give the honor to this holiday that we do with others. Heck you can find more people celebrating Puerto Rican Day, Gay Pride Day and even St Patrick’s Day than Veterans Day. That is a sad statement.
Going back to the Vietnam War people who disagreed with a war or conflict started to treat soldiers with little respect. They would spit on them, throw things at them and curse at them when they came back home. Why do people do that?
I for one having never served in the military, appreciate them more than ever before. These brave men and woman who risk their lives to help other people and to keep our country safe do it without thought.
The soldiers of today are all volunteers. They enlist and know that they can and will be called to battle at some point in their careers. Yet they still sign up. It is amazing. When there was a draft 99% of all men went to war to serve their country knowing that the odds of coming back home in one piece or at all were slim.
How many of us today knowing what the dangers are could say that?
For the life of me I cannot understand why people that disagree with war take it out on the soldiers who are doing their jobs. What did these soldiers ever do, other than to serve our country, that they should be treated by certain people so poorly? Why do people try to undermine their jobs by saying things in public that will put them in harms way and set us up for failure?
The world is really crazy and many of those crazies are right here in this country. If it were not for the men and woman who had served and for the men and woman currently serving this country, those nuts who keep bashing our troops would not be able to bash anyone or they might be speaking German.
What I want to say that I appreciate every military person past and present. I will go out of my way to shake their hands and thank them for their selfless act of serving and protecting my family.
I urge you all, even if you disagree with the war, to thank a veteran or a current military person. It would mean a lot to them I am sure to hear those two words; Thank You.
Go to www.letssaythanks.com. Xerox is sponsoring a site where you can choose a card and they will print it and send it to a solider. You do not need to know a soldier they will send it out. A message from you will go a long way in our soldiers moral.
Here is what I found on Veterans Day and wanted to share it with you.
Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs. What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov.11. It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former service members properly.
A Brief History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislature that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.
President Eisenhower’s letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee
The White House Office
October 8, 1954
Dear Mr. Higley:
I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.
I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.
Sincerely,
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
From Luigi, God Bless America and Bless Our Troops
www.letssaythanks.com
| Comments (1) |
On November 9, 2009 Anna said:
wow i think this article is pretty spectacular
|
| |
[ back ]
