Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Thank you Veterans....



What do you know about Veteran's Day?
The following is from Wikipedia:
Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a federal and state holiday in all states, it is usually observed on November 11. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated for holiday leave, and if it occurs Saturday then either Saturday or Friday may be so designated. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)

A little more detailed history:
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 12, 1919. The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting the President issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday; "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas, shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in WWI. King had been actively involved with the American War Dads during WWII. He began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into "All" Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11, 1953, to honor veterans. With the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
So to all the Veteran's out there, thank you for all that you have done in making this country the land of the free, and home of the brave. I know many, many families have lost their family members serving our great country, and I thank you too, for supporting your family, for "loaning" them to us, and for unfortunately "losing" them for us.
My note to my readers....if you see a Veteran today, go shake his/her hand and tell them "Thank You".



7 comments:

Hopsy said...

What a wonderful tribute. We must thank our veterans today and everyday!

Sibi said...

I agree with KP! A wonderful tribute.
Freedom does not come free....


I wanted to respond to your question about the cards while I could get to the computer! Please forgive me for leaving this on your veterans post!!

Last year we used Tiny Prints.
Adorable is all I can say! We wanted a pink Christmas card because it was baby Pearl's first Christmas and they had it!
In years past I have either purchased boxed cards or had them made by a local printer if I couldn't find what I wanted.

Also, look at www.finestationery.com- I think they offer everything under the sun.

Also, look at 3 peanuts blog- Kim
just did a big post about terrific
Christmas Card offerings,etc.

Hope this helps and God bless our veterans!!

Snooty Primadona said...

What a great post! The hubby and I went to the cemetary and put flags on the graves of all the family veterans. Though we're proud of them, it was still sad.

And yes, freedom always has a price, doesn't it?

Grace said...

oh where oh where has beaufort belle gone?

Unknown said...

Hi Jenn,

Just checking in on you. Hope you are doing well.

Seaside Prep said...

Hi there!!

We are officially Trim A Tree Swap partners!! I am so excited! :)

When you have a chance, email me at seasideprep@gmail.com and we can swap interests, etc.
Looking forward to it!

Grace said...

I left you something on my blog! Hopefully it will bring you back to the blog world! :)