The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Lest we forget

[Matridom]

I have great respect for those who have risked their lives so that we have the freedoms we do now, not only during the World Wars but in all past and present conflicts around the world. Today is dedicated to those who have made sacrifices, mental, physical and in many cases, their lives.

So to everyone, Thank you.

[DonJ]

What is the history of Veteran's Day?

At the end of the first World War, which was, at the time, the worst war the world had ever been witness to, the Allied and the Central Powers signed an armistice which finally put a stop to the conflict. In honor of this day, one year later, in 1919, the Congress of the United States enacted a resolution. This resolution stated that the United States flag would be prominently displayed on all of the government buildings on the eleventh of November. And, that all of the citizens should observe this special day by holding peaceful ceremonies which would further celebrate the sanctity of peace.

Then, in May of the year of 1938, an official act was approved in which the eleventh of every November of every year would be proclaimed as being Armistice Day. This day was meant to celebrate the virutes of peace and further pursue world peace as well as honor the veterans of World War I. And, finally, it had become an official holiday.

In the year of 1954, however, after the United States had yet battled in two more wars, the Korean War and World War II, President Eisenhower signed a bill which amended the resolution and changed it from being Armistice Day to being Veterans Day. The eleventh day of November was then changed to honor not only the veterans of World War I and celebrate the end of that war, but to honor all of the veterans from all of the wars that had taken place.

However, it was not to stay the same, as fourteen years later, in the year of 1968, a bill was put into effect. This passing of this bill changed the observation of four national holidays to fall on Monday. This change would give the people a longer holiday weekend which was intended to revitalize commerce. Veterans Day was to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of October. The first Veterans Day, after the bill was put into effect, was celebrated on the twenty-fifth day of October in the year of 1971, but, only some of the states agreed with this change, and, therefore, only some of them went along with this change.

This stayed this way for the next four years until, in the year of 1975, Gerald Ford signed a new law into effect that would change Veterans Day back to its original date which was the eleventh of November, being that this date was the original one.

Today, Veterans Day is still held eleventh day of November as it was originally intended to be. It honors all of the veterans of all of the armed forces of the United States who fought in any one of the wars. It once honored only the fighting men, but it now includes the women who have done their part in helping to maintain peace, liberty, and the freedom that all Americans enjoy.

Today, parades are held and flags are displayed, especially at the graves of soldiers, and a national ceremony is held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is located in the Arlington Cemetary. This tomb is a monument to honor all of the unidentified soldiers who were killed in action. A moment of silence is observed, taps is played, and the President of the United States ceremoniously lays a wreath at the base of the tomb.

And like Mat said, Thank You!!!

[Ferrit]

Today, Veterans Day is still held eleventh day of November as it was originally intended to be. It honors all of the veterans of all of the armed forces of the United States who fought in any one of the wars. It once honored only the fighting men, but it now includes the women who have done their part in helping to maintain peace, liberty, and the freedom that all Americans enjoy.

That would be::ALL OF OF VETERANS OF ALL ARMIES not just the UNITED STATES

[TripleRLtd]

That would be::ALL OF OF VETERANS OF ALL ARMIES not just the UNITED STATES

Not to disagree, but to explain: what Don posted was about the celebration of Veteran's Day in the US. In other countries such as the Commonwealth it is called Remembrance Day, and/or Armistice Day in other Allied countries of the time.

Armistice Day is the anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." While this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the ceasefire on the Western Front, hostilities continued in other regions, especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old Ottoman Empire.

This was gladly celebrated as a national holiday each year in many of the former allied nations. After World War II, it was changed to Veterans Day in the United States and to Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations. In many parts of the world, people take a minute of silence at 11:00am as a sign of respect, as suggested by Edward George Honey in a letter to a British newspaper.

That being said, and it now being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (in the US Eastern time zone):

yes indeed, many thanks

[TripleRLtd]

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.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing 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. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ncePoppies.jpg

[Ferrit]

I find it a very sad thing indeed that anyone would attempt to put boundaries or limits or exclusive rights to a day in history where it was a world effort.
Mat:s post was for the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and the remeberance of all soldiers who gave their lives and their efforts

[TripleRLtd]

And I don't think DonJ meant any disrespect by his post. So, why make a big deal out of it? So, different countries have different names for the same day: the same celebration!
It's all good.

[Matridom]

I think my intentions on this thread are a little confused.

I was very carefull in not naming the holiday by a proper name cause has tripler pointed out, it's not called the same by every country.

My intentions here is to pay respect to ALL countries that lost good men and women in times of conflict, wether it's the americains in iraq, canadians in peacekeeping, the british during the falcon war, just to name a few of the more recent incidents.

To me, it's disrespectfull to acknowledge only *our* contribution, when it was many more who have paid the price in blood. Let's pay our respects to everyone who had a hand in it, wether they are friends or foes.

We have enough conflicts in the world has it is, please don't start one here.

[Pinnacle]

Very well said Matridom.

[NooNoo]

College class stopped for 1 min and 5 seconds... it would have made two minutes but the adults their realised the 18 year olds have no freaking clue and no interest in getting one.

Thanks Grandad, and all your pals and their pals...

[DonJ]

Yes, well said Mat.

Nothing but respect to ALL who served. No boundaries.