I have my Buddy Poppy

[Burning Petard]

I will be wearing it on my hat tomorrow when I go to Denny's to get my free breakfast. Lots of business places around here are advertising special 'thanks' to veterans tomorrow. Just show some kind of document showing some kind of military service, current or past.

This pisses me off. I remember last year a thread about this. When did November 11 become Veterans Day?

November11, the anniversary of the end of WWI, the Great War, the War to End All Wars. A Canadian physician wrote a poem that in my mind is an angry cry for vengeance.

In Flanders Field

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.

John McCrae

In most of the English-speaking world November 11 is called Remembrance Day. In the USofA it used to be called Armistice Day. Now for too many it is just a day to grab a freebie.

snailgate

[wesw]

thanks.

[Burning Petard]

I guess I answer my own question. Armistice Day died in 1954

"In 1954, after World War II and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea the Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars." from a web site on official federal holidays.

snailgate

[oldr_n_wsr]

To all the veterans, a sincere Thank You for your service to this country.

[wesw]

I m surprised by the lack of response to this thread.

saddened too....

[Big RR]

We still called it Armistice Day (perhaps improperly) when I was in school in the 60s (and I recall the poem we read every year that said "on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the guns fell silent"), but since the Armistice was executed as long ago now as the Treaty of Appomatox Courthouse was then and as we have had thousands fighting and dying in other wars since then, I see no reason not to broaden it to honor all veterans.

As I recall, the time it became Veterans Day was when Congress tried to make it yet another Monday Holiday (and I think that lasted only a few years).

[oldr_n_wsr]

It's also my moms birthday, God rest her soul.
Happy Birthday mom.
Miss you.

[Bicycle Bill]

... as we have had thousands fighting and dying in other wars since then, I see no reason not to broaden it to honor all veterans.

Which "war to end all wars" are we up to now, anyway?

Hey, here's an idea.  Let's have a specific national holiday to celebrate the ending of each and every war ... the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII (we can have two days there, VE and VJ Day), the War of Jenkin's Ear, etc.....  Each war/police action/military interdiction/whatever gets its own day.

Before long we'll be spending an entire year ... a full 365 days ... doing nothing but remembering the end of one war or another, and maybe we'll think twice about getting involved in any more of them.

-"BB"-

[Big RR]

Sadly, the next big one may well grant our wish to end future wars, but not because of any enlightenment.

[Lord Jim]

Whether you call it Armistice Day or Veterans Day, let me take this moment on this day to express my thanks to all veterans for their service, past, present and future...

[Big RR]

... as we have had thousands fighting and dying in other wars since then, I see no reason not to broaden it to honor all veterans.

Which "war to end all wars" are we up to now, anyway?

Hey, here's an idea.  Let's have a specific national holiday to celebrate the ending of each and every war ... the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII (we can have two days there, VE and VJ Day), the War of Jenkin's Ear, etc.....  Each war/police action/military interdiction/whatever gets its own day.

Before long we'll be spending an entire year ... a full 365 days ... doing nothing but remembering the end of one war or another, and maybe we'll think twice about getting involved in any more of them.

-"BB"-

I like that idea.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Before long we'll be spending an entire year ... a full 365 days ... doing nothing but remembering the end of one war or another, and maybe we'll think twice about getting involved in any more of them.

All those days will just be turned into "xxx Sales Days". Isn't that the main reason for holidays/rememberance days anyway?

[Big RR]

Sadly, after a while that is what they become. I'm waiting for the first MLK day to have sales that "only MLK could dream about", or "buy one and get one free at last".

[Long Run]

To all the veterans, a sincere Thank You for your service to this country.

Agree!

[BoSoxGal]

I love that idea too, Bill!

My FB feed is full of honoring veterans today, so I don't believe that BS that people don't care.

Also, I just ran out to get a coffee at DD, and the streets were lightly trafficked. I know stores run big sales on national holidays, for the obvious reason that some people (far from all) get the day off and *might* go shopping. That doesn't mean it's all anybody cares about.

I honor our veterans and active duty servicepeople, today and EVERY day.

I'm also terrified for them now that a man who thinks we should USE our nuclear weapons has just been handed the codes; I can only imagine with what recklessness he will deploy our troops. I can only hope that our military leaders refuse his orders.

[Big RR]

I can only hope that our military leaders refuse his orders

Of course, except in the most exceptional of circumstances, that is a very dangerous precedent.

However, I do recall hearing stories that Nixon was a big drinker and sometimes when drunk would call up one or more of the joint chiefs generals and tell the to launch an attack (I don't think a nuclear one). Luckily those drunken orders were ignored.

ETA: And let's not forget the 25th amendment, which permits the VP and cabinet to assume the duties and relieve the president is (s)he is unable to carry out the duties--eventually leading to a decision by congress (much like an impeachment but requiring supermajorities in both houses to remove the president as incapacitated) if it is challenged.

[BoSoxGal]

I know it is.

But then, I think, Trump as CiC is even a worse one.