AChat Forum
Off-Topic => Quizz, Fav TV, Fav Music, Fav Films, Books... => Topic started by: mooncalf on November 11, 2013, 05:51:06 AM
-
Here in the United States, today is Veterans Day, it's a day we set aside to honor our military veterans. Now, I realize that this is an international site, and an international forum, which I do enjoy, so I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all our veterans. Not only from the United States, but all military veterans regardless of which country you served. It takes special people who are willing to put everything on the line to defend what they hold dear.
A Brief History of Veterans Day here in the USA:
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.
Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.
-
In the UK , we also have Remembrance or Armistice Day which is officially at 11am on 11 Nov. In addition to this we have Remembrance Sunday held as close to the 11/11 as possible, where we have military parades and laying of poppy wreaths at cenotaphs or memorials to our war dead.
We observe a two minute silence at 11am on the 11/11 across the country in remembrance and respect to our fallen military. In addition to this we buy red poppys to wear on our lapels, coats, suits etc.. for this same reason, and the money collected is a recognised charity to assist surviving soldiers.
Here's our UK history -
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognised as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918.
Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month," in accordance with the Armistice, signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.
The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.
The Initial or Very First Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic" during the evening hours of November 10, 1919. The first official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace on the Morning of November 11, 1919. This would set the trend for a day of Remembrance for decades to come.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
(http://www.greatwar.co.uk/images/poppies/combined-poppies-800.jpg)
In Flanders Fields
Flanders Poppy on the First World War battlefields.
by John McCrae, May 1915
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.
Thank you to all military personnel, past present and future who fight selflessly to ensure the freedom we have today and keeping me and mine safe.
Thank you to the soldiers who have paid the ultimate price of this freedom with their lives and to the families they left behind. You have my never ending gratitude and respect.
-
Its Remembrance Day today.
Thank you to all our Military, Fallen, Hurt & still protecting us.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/b4/7a/46b47aa60f2788ea1d389f94062c784f.jpg)
-
Thank you Veterans for your Service!
http://www.funnyadultgamesplay.com/forum/index.php/topic,4336.45.html