Re: [OT] Rememberance Day

Veterans' Day (formerly 'Armistice Day', 'Remembrance Day' in Canada)

November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in the
Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World
War
I, after four years of conflict.

At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice,
an
order was issued for all firing to cease; so the hostilities of the
First
World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of
whistles, impromptu parades, closing of places of business. All over the
globe there were many demonstrations; no doubt the world has never
before
witnessed such rejoicing.

In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day
proclamation. The last paragraph set the tone for future observances:

"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 nation."

The name was changed to Veterans' Day by Act of Congress on May 24,
1954. In
October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to
observe
the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so
gallantly,
and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The
President referred to the change of name to Veterans' Day in honor of
the
servicemen of all America's wars.

-----------------------

It's not just a day that other people have off.....

-----------------------

-=Kr'rt

----- Original Message -----
From: <kaladorn@magma.ca>
To: <gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 8:52 PM
Subject: [OT] Rememberance Day

> I'll risk being OT for the list (just the once, mind....). The
> following is a personal sentiment I'm sharing but reflects only my
> own 0.02.
>
> It is coming up to Remeberance day (3:22 mins off by my clock). I
> just wanted to extend my sincere prayers for each and every list
> member who is currently serving somewhere for a safe return (Los,
> John A, Magic, and any others) from duty stations. Keep your heads
> down, stay sharp, and get back in one piece.
>
> I'd also like to take this moment to thank them and the other list
> members who have worn the uniform throughout the last few decades,
> from whatever nations they may be from. The countries may vary, as
> may the uniforms, but the men and women retain a certain commonality
> of spirit and values (duty, honour, courage, comradeship, self-
> sacrifice) worth honouring.
>
> And, most importantly, I'd like to remember people like my
> Grandfather who served underage in the "The Great War" and the
> Occupation and who, despite experiencing horrors my mind can't really
> encompass, managed to retain the understanding that the enemy soldier
> was no more or less evil than he was. He didn't come back from that
> war without deep and lasting emotional scars (and the physical
> effects of being mustard gassed) which we mostly didn't discover
> until he was in his 90s, but he managed to keep that side of the war
> from his family and from his Grandson when he was growing up. For
> sharing of himself with me and protecting me from the horrors until I
> was old enough to understand them myself - thanks Grandad.
>
> I'm not going to comment on good or bad or just or unjust wars.
> Rememberance Day isn't about that for me. It is about remembering the
> sacrifices of those who have gone before, on whose shoulders we now
> stand, and from whom we have received the torch and the task of
> making the world a bit better. It is about remembering the
> individuals, their stories, and remembering the lessons of the past
> so that we need not relearn them in the future.
>
> See you guys on the 12th.
>
> Tom B.
>