Veterans Day 2010

Just wanted to put out a big heartfelt thanks to all the veterans we have out there. Please know that there are those of us who understand the sacrifice you willingly put up to serve our great nation. I know some folks who don’t understand the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans day. So I thought I would help explain it – if I can.

Veterans Day, which  is today November 11, honors all U.S. military veterans. Memorial Day, the last Monday of each May, salutes the men and women of the U.S. military who died while in the service.  There is a difference here.

Veterans Day wasn’t always called Veterans Day, and it didn’t always salute all veterans. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the holiday, originally known as Armistice Day, on Nov. 11, 1919. It celebrated the end of World War I,  “The Great War.” (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)

President Woodrow Wilson stated: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting that the President (Calvin Coolidge) issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.^[4][5]

Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of every year, starting in 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. In 1978 it was moved back to its original celebration on November 11. Since this change, there has been a trend against being closed on the holiday. It began with businesses (excluding banks) and in recent years some schools and local governments have also chosen to remain open

The holiday limited its salute to World War I veterans for nearly 40 years before someone finally realized this date should be used to celebrate all veterans, not just those of The Great War. After all, America’s seen its share of conflicts over the years; we’ve got thousands serving at home and overseas today; and we’ll have thousands more serving in the future.

They were honored then. They are honored now, and they should be honored years from now for the selfishness act of offering their lives, if need be, in the name of Freedom.

My question is this, other than declaring a national holiday – do our veterans get their honor that’s due them? I mean, because the holiday is a weekday – most businesses (the company I work for in fact) does not close, I see very few parades – in fact now days – I see less respect, honor, and accolade given to our soldiers. What do you see/think?

And since I did not post anything yesterday – Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps.