Veterans Day

Here I am as a 1st LT in Bosnia in 1996. That's Yankee Bill standing a bit off the side. . . isn't he handsome!

To all those who have served or are currently serving-Happy Veteran’s Day. Thank you for your service, and a special thanks to your families for their support of you–I know it isn’t easy.

For those without a direct connection to the military, consider taking a few minutes to talk to a veteran today, find out about their service and thank them.  Especially those older veterans–frequently you will see these gentlemen proudly wearing hats that show their serviced.

And since I occasionally strive to be educational, here’s a little bit of the history of Veteran’s Day.  President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919 one year to the day after the ending of World War I.  The war ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  On proclaiming the day Wilson said:

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn 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”

In 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law turning Armistice Day into “All” Veterans Day and making it a Federal holiday.  This act was amended a month or so later replacing  “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day since.

The date of our Veterans Day is shared as Armistice or Rememberance day around the world.  I always especially appreciate and like to share this video by Canadian artist Terry Kelly called “A Pittance of Time” on Veterans Day.  It actually was based on his personal experience in a shop one Veterans Day.