Observing Veteran's Day
Nov 12th, 2007, 07:29 AM
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Observing Veteran's Day
Would like to keep this non-partisan (hence posting on US instead of sparring-ring Lounge), but I'm wondering what people think about how we're observing Veteran's Day.
Aside from all the tradition big sales at retail stores, I'm surprised to find so many other things open today -- the stock exchanges, for example. On the other hand, the "real" Veteran's Day was yesterday ("11th hour of 11th day of 11th month"), so many of the usual ceremonies took place yesterday.
I've gotten tired of losing "real" holiday-days to Mondays, just to get long weekends; and kind of like celebrating whatever the holiday is on the actual day of its original designation.
On the other hand, (I have a lot of other-hands, obviously) it seems less than fully appreciative of the veterans to have business-as-usual today.
I'm really not sure how I think this should work. What do you think?
Aside from all the tradition big sales at retail stores, I'm surprised to find so many other things open today -- the stock exchanges, for example. On the other hand, the "real" Veteran's Day was yesterday ("11th hour of 11th day of 11th month"), so many of the usual ceremonies took place yesterday.
I've gotten tired of losing "real" holiday-days to Mondays, just to get long weekends; and kind of like celebrating whatever the holiday is on the actual day of its original designation.
On the other hand, (I have a lot of other-hands, obviously) it seems less than fully appreciative of the veterans to have business-as-usual today.
I'm really not sure how I think this should work. What do you think?
Nov 12th, 2007, 08:45 AM
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This is the one holiday that has taken rather 2 directions where I live. For awhile it was going onto Mondays, despite the date, like Memorial Day has. But now, it IS celebrated on November 11 and NOT the Monday in about 90% of all venues in IL. And this year, the kids actually had to go to school on Monday the 12th, and are getting another inservice day for parents'/teachers' conferences next week during Thanksgiving week, instead off.
It is celebrated very much in ceremony and in church, cemetary and town events in relationship to Vets needs here. And our main expressway is going to be closed every November 11- for a Veterans' event and acknowledgement. They will actually have venues set up on the interchanges for the jobs needs or other possible medical or housing problem continguencies that arise.
Veterans' Memorial is the name of the new tollway and it was opened in ceremony by a healing heavily wounded Vet, not many months returned from Iraq.
It's too bad that Vets are not treated or given advantages after service that they are absolutely entitled to, IMHO. And this is not just in recent years either. Even with a very low unemployment rate, we have, right now, about 10% of Vets that are hard to place, jobless, or repeat jobless here. That could be so much better with the right associations with the employers.
It is celebrated very much in ceremony and in church, cemetary and town events in relationship to Vets needs here. And our main expressway is going to be closed every November 11- for a Veterans' event and acknowledgement. They will actually have venues set up on the interchanges for the jobs needs or other possible medical or housing problem continguencies that arise.
Veterans' Memorial is the name of the new tollway and it was opened in ceremony by a healing heavily wounded Vet, not many months returned from Iraq.
It's too bad that Vets are not treated or given advantages after service that they are absolutely entitled to, IMHO. And this is not just in recent years either. Even with a very low unemployment rate, we have, right now, about 10% of Vets that are hard to place, jobless, or repeat jobless here. That could be so much better with the right associations with the employers.
Nov 12th, 2007, 09:18 AM
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I'm curious about one thing. A couple of days ago I was in Port Angeles. A salesgirl asked where I got the poppy that was pinned to my coat. I told her they were all over the place in Canada. I don't recall seeing them during the few days we were in Washington state. Do Americans not wear poppies?
Nov 12th, 2007, 09:45 AM
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We used to wear poppies -- the veterans used to stand on street corners and hand them out (they were paper, of course).
The reference is the poem "In Flanders Field .. the poppies grow/Between the crosses/Row on row..." -- a reference to so many soldiers buried in that cemetery.
The reference is the poem "In Flanders Field .. the poppies grow/Between the crosses/Row on row..." -- a reference to so many soldiers buried in that cemetery.
Nov 12th, 2007, 10:30 AM
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This is the first Veteran's Day I have not seen Poppies passed out in my area and I wonder why.
Our area had all their celebrations in honor of our military (past and present) yesterday which of course is the true date of Veterans/Memorial Day.
I truly salute and thank all who have served in the military and I salute their loved ones who have also made so many sacrifices. Blessings to one and all.
Our area had all their celebrations in honor of our military (past and present) yesterday which of course is the true date of Veterans/Memorial Day.
I truly salute and thank all who have served in the military and I salute their loved ones who have also made so many sacrifices. Blessings to one and all.
Nov 12th, 2007, 10:31 AM
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The poppies are a Canadian tradition. We call our day Rememberce Day. The poem In Flanders Fields was written during the first world war by a Canadian doctor John McCrae. He was in the midst of the fighting and saw so much of death and hurrendous injuries. When a good friend of his died he performed the service for him as there was no Chaplain nearby. He wrote the poem in just as few minutes just expressing his feelings and the describing the sight at the time. It is a very touching poem and one that young people should read so they don't forget how we came to live in a free country.
Nov 12th, 2007, 10:53 AM
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Dr. McCrae (he died in France of pneumonia in 1918 and is buried there) threw the poem in the trash but a friend retrieved it and sent it to Punch magazine where it was published in 1915. It was an American woman who popularized the wearing of the poppy. Here's something I found on the subject - (sounds like it was written for school children):
The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance. Red poppies are worn
in several countries throughout the world by people who want to
remember the soldiers who died protecting their countries during
wars and in peace-keeping. The red poppies are worn in the
United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, as well as in
other countries, on November 11th each year. November 11th is
called Veterans Day in the United States, Armistice Day in Great
Britain, and Remembrance Day in Canada and Australia.
The poppy has been used as a symbol of our remembrance since
World War I. Poppies grow best in freshly turned earth, and the
battlefields of the first world war were covered with red poppies.
Lt. Colonel John McCrae wrote a poem about the poppies called,
“In Flanders Field…”, and they became a reminder of the many
people who had died during that war. Moina Michael was an
American war volunteer. She began wearing a red poppy to
commemorate those who had died on the battlefield. The
Canadian Great War Veterans’ Association adopted this tradition
in 1921.
Veterans’ Associations in the United States and other countries
sell real and silk poppies to provide funding for services provided to former members of the armed forces. Medical assistance,
equipment, meals, and trans-portation are some of the services
provided.
Wearing a red poppy is a special way of showing that we remember those people who gave so much for our freedom.
The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance. Red poppies are worn
in several countries throughout the world by people who want to
remember the soldiers who died protecting their countries during
wars and in peace-keeping. The red poppies are worn in the
United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, as well as in
other countries, on November 11th each year. November 11th is
called Veterans Day in the United States, Armistice Day in Great
Britain, and Remembrance Day in Canada and Australia.
The poppy has been used as a symbol of our remembrance since
World War I. Poppies grow best in freshly turned earth, and the
battlefields of the first world war were covered with red poppies.
Lt. Colonel John McCrae wrote a poem about the poppies called,
“In Flanders Field…”, and they became a reminder of the many
people who had died during that war. Moina Michael was an
American war volunteer. She began wearing a red poppy to
commemorate those who had died on the battlefield. The
Canadian Great War Veterans’ Association adopted this tradition
in 1921.
Veterans’ Associations in the United States and other countries
sell real and silk poppies to provide funding for services provided to former members of the armed forces. Medical assistance,
equipment, meals, and trans-portation are some of the services
provided.
Wearing a red poppy is a special way of showing that we remember those people who gave so much for our freedom.
Nov 12th, 2007, 01:23 PM
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The selling of poppies in Canada is also supposed to raise funds for ex-service members.
I can't even think about In Flanders Fields without tearing up.
My uncle was badly burnt in France and the only one to survive in his trench. Someone realized he was alive when they saw an eyeball move. Thankfully, after many operations, he was able to come home and live a quiet life. He worried that children would point and laugh or be scared by his face of grafted skin so he rode to work at the back of the bus. But to me, his patchwork face was all I ever knew and I thought it just look weathered. Nothing could mar the fact that he was a beautiful man. RIP, my dear uncle.
And for Veterans who think nobody cares any more, it's not true.
I can't even think about In Flanders Fields without tearing up.
My uncle was badly burnt in France and the only one to survive in his trench. Someone realized he was alive when they saw an eyeball move. Thankfully, after many operations, he was able to come home and live a quiet life. He worried that children would point and laugh or be scared by his face of grafted skin so he rode to work at the back of the bus. But to me, his patchwork face was all I ever knew and I thought it just look weathered. Nothing could mar the fact that he was a beautiful man. RIP, my dear uncle.
And for Veterans who think nobody cares any more, it's not true.
Nov 12th, 2007, 02:50 PM
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My husband and I went to a hockey game this weekend, and they honored a family who had lost a son in the war. The family got a standing ovation from the entire crowd, and everyone was tearing up - it was really touching. I think it meant a lot to them that people care.
Nov 13th, 2007, 05:11 AM
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IN FLANDERS FIELDS
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.
Nov 13th, 2007, 06:09 AM
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When we lived in Australia, Veteran's Day (called Remembrance Day there) was not a public holiday, so all the schools and shops were open as normal. However, at 11am, EVERYBODY stopped whatever they were doing for a minute of silence. So if you were in a shopping mall at 11 am, as I was once, everyone stopped in their tracks for a minute of silence. I thought this was an amazing tribute and something that I doubted I would ever see in the States.
Nov 13th, 2007, 06:35 AM
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longhorn55, in my growing up years in metropolitan Chicago (1950's-'60's) we did exactly that at certain designated times. (Pearl Harbor Day in the morning, and D-Day June 6 always- as well) and always on Nov.22 at 2:00 pm for JFK in the years after 1963.
Public or private schools, we had a strong community and veteran reference for service and the bottom line absolute fact that for another's military or public service sacrifice we would never ever be "free". Not for our long education years, nor for an open society that we really enjoyed and appreciated. More so maybe because many came and experienced places where none of that was true.
Public or private schools, we had a strong community and veteran reference for service and the bottom line absolute fact that for another's military or public service sacrifice we would never ever be "free". Not for our long education years, nor for an open society that we really enjoyed and appreciated. More so maybe because many came and experienced places where none of that was true.
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