The Origins of Veterans Day

Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama, organized a Veterans Day parade for that city on November 11, 1947, to honor all of America's Veterans for their loyal service. Later, U.S. Representative Edward H. Rees of Kansas proposed legislation changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all who have served in America’s Armed Forces.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a Presidential Order directing the head of the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs, to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day. In addition to fulfilling that mission, the committee oversees the annual production and distribution of the annual Veterans Day poster and this Teacher Resource Guide.

In 1968, Congress moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. However, it became apparent that the November 11th date was historically significant to a great many Americans. As a result, Congress formally returned the observance of Veterans Day to its traditional date in 1978.

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11 a.m., a color guard, made up of members from each of the military services, renders honors to America's war dead during a tradition-rich ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The President or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb and a bugler sounds “Taps.” The balance of the ceremony, including a "Parade of Flags" by numerous Veterans service organizations, takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the Tomb.

In addition to planning and coordinating the National Veterans Day Ceremony, the Veterans Day National Committee supports a number of Veterans Day Regional Sites. These sites conduct Veterans Day celebrations that provide excellent examples for other communities to follow.

For a listing of these sites, please visit: www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/regsites.asp.

In Flanders Fields

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.

Veteran's Day - 2010

Sharpsburg GA, 10 Nov. 2010 1952 hours

Dear Milblog Friends and readers:


Today as I headed to a long day at work, which usually means no lunch, I stopped for a good breakfast at a favorite restaurant, Chick-fil-A. As I sat down at the counter to order I was next to a young man (30s maybe - young to me anyway) and I presume his lovely wife. They were talking and enjoying their meal as I ordered. Normally I would say hello as that is my nature. But I didn't want to interrupt their conversation so I minded my own business. They were preparing to leave when I overheard the waitress mention their military status even though they were in civilian attire. Seems they had the day off. The wife left first and then the "young" man got ready to leave. I looked over and honestly, I noticed him a lot because his stature and age reminded me of my own son Mike, and I paid extra close attention when I heard the word "military". Then without warning it happened.

This young man turned to me unexpectedly and said "Happy Veteran's Day Sir." I was caught completely off guard as I was in civilian dress, coat and tie. Then he touched the dog tag I wear around my neck and said "Army?" I said I was not a Veteran but I would accept his well wishes on behalf and in honor of my son SGT Mike Stokely who was a Veteran. "Where's he serving at?" Then I quietly told him Mike was killed in Iraq in 2005 by a roadside bomb. Then it happened.

This young man with as sincere a look as ever I had seen, confident at that, with an appreciative pride took my hand with a firm grasp - one that was secure firmness without hurting, and gently shook it and said "Thank You for your son's service and sacrifice." As our handshake came to an end, I told this young man Thank You for his service. Then he left. But you know what? I really didn't feel like he had left, for his presence, his confidence, his look said "I am here and always will be if you have need." I don't even know his name but I will never forget his face. His face is the face of those who serve, who stand in harm's way, who commit to the needs of others greater than their own. His face is like the face of my own boy, someone willing to give his life for America.

As I sat down and my food came, my emotions welled up, tears included. My food did not need salt after that. I felt envious to have missed out on the opportunity to serve and be rightfully called a Veteran. I have few real regrets in life, but seeing what military service and commitment is and what it means to those who serve, I truly regret never having taken the oath and worn the uniform.

Most of my future is behind me. It is too late for me to serve and wear the uniform. But I can serve those who do and I am honored when that opportunity comes my way. My boy left me a rich legacy and treasure trove of friends. In the wake of Mike's death, as I struggled with my emotions and grief, many more friends through the MilBlog world have come into my life and stood me up again. Mike's old unit allows me to serve in their Family Readiness Group and I have been honored to serve as a Survivor Advisor to the Army Chief of Staff. In the past year I was privileged to represent the Mike Stokely Foundation, Inc. as a part of fund raisers held by Chick-fil-A for a seriously wounded soldier and tomorrow two fund raiser through Chick-fil-A to benefit a three tour of duty Warrior who is battling cancer and fighting for his life. I wish Mike were here, but that was not a choice I got to make in the early morning hours of August 16, 2005 on a lonely road near Yusufiyah. I will die with a broken heart, but I wake up each day and remind myself throughout the day to choose to live life with as much joy and accept the many blessings that come my way because Mike died serving America - Romans 8:28 blessings I call them. Blessing like I write of above.

Today, another of those blessing - for a young soldier to confuse me as a Veteran, wow, what a vicarious moment rich with the taste of what it must be like to rightfully deserve that Honor. I'll never be called a Veteran in a rightful sense, but I am sure proud my boy can be.

It is late in the evening here in Atlanta area and I am about to head out on the 70 mile trip to Mike's grave to dress it up with new Patriotic flowers for Veteran's Day and then to put out American Flags for the fundraiser. I have had a long day and a long night to come, with another long day to follow with work and fund raisers tomorrow. But an energy burns within me that comes from a loving memory of my boy, what he gave and more importantly, who he is. Thank you to all those who have been on this journey with me since Mike died and the encouragement and support you have generously given.

And to those who wore the uniform, Thank You for your service and your family for their sacrifice.

DUTY HONOR COUNTRY

Robert Stokely
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely, Purple Heart and Bronze Star
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
US Army E 108 CAV 48th Brigade Combat Team Georgia National Guard

American Veterans Center - Veteran's Day Conference

The American Veterans Center* is hosting their annual Veterans Day conference November 4th - 6th in Washington, D.C., honoring America's most distinguished veterans and active duty service members and providing them a forum to share their experiences and memories of the defining moments in American military history.

Some attendee highlights are:

Baseball Heroes of WWII, including Yogi Berra and Bob Feller (will be filmed for broadcast on MLB Network taping on Veterans Day)
The Doolittle Raiders
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Band of Brothers (including a few of the actors who portrayed the vets in the miniseries)
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Some of the greatest heroes of Afghanistan and Iraq
A program honoring our Wounded Warriors to be televised on the Pentagon Channel on Veterans Day

For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/events/conference.

*The mission of the American Veterans Center is to preserve and promote the legacy of America’s servicemen and women from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thank A Vet - School Program

No it's not another school singing the praises of "Dear Leader", its an elementary school singing the praises of our Vets.



H/T: JD Johannes

Google Celebrates Veteran's Day!

OH, Actually I meant to say that Google is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street with this:



In 2007 this is how Google honored our vets....



And in 2008 this is how it was done.

Before 2007, nothing, unless you were in the UK and could see the Remembrance Day honors.

Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on the VA Web site - www.va.gov - featuring the oral histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.

"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans, preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future generations."

Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on the U.S. map in the display http://www1.va.gov/opa/vhp/default.cfm

As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to "Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets -- which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to access the project's extensive digital archive.

VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program. VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the Veterans History Project.

The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.

The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately 65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets/

Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov or the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.

Applebee's Say: Thank You Veteran's!

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Veteran's Day Greetings

To all my fellow vets, both past and present:

Thank You For Your Service to Our Country!

Enjoy your day, but never forget.