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Entry bubble Veterans Day

By: Joanne | November 11, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Veterans Day, Honoring All Who Served, November 11, 2008

Today is Veterans Day, a holiday intended to thank veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The Census Bureau tells us that we’ve got around 23 million veterans in the United States.

The history of Veterans Day dates back to the end of World War I. November 11 was declared "Armistice Day" in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson to honor the soldiers of World War I. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.

On Veterans Day, I always think of my favorite Veteran - my dad, who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He passed away a few years ago and is buried in a Veterans Cemetery along with so many others. If you know of someone who is buried in a Veterans Cemetery, but you don’t know quite where to find them, try the Veterans’ grave site locator.

Many towns and communities across America plan events to honor local veterans and the National Veterans Day Observance is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery where veterans and other exceptional individuals from the Revolutionary War to the present military action in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. The National Park Service preserves many battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans and will offer free admission on Veterans Day to veterans and active military.

What will you do to observe Veterans Day?

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cemetery   day   federal   holiday   joanne   military   veteran  

Comments (6):

blue comment bubble Posted by Thomas on November 11, 2008 at 10:29 AM EST

Other then mentioning it on my blog, I will try to write a thank you letter or send off a email to some friends who served in our military.

Thomas

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blue comment bubble Posted by Beachesofindy on November 11, 2008 at 12:35 PM EST

I want to thank our vets that have served during peace time. You were there had our country needed you. Each and everyone who has served not only in war time, but peace time as well. Thank you and you are all American Heroes.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Guru on November 11, 2008 at 01:07 PM EST

I am a disable veteran; been out of the Army for a little over 10 years now. The nicest thing to happen to me is when strangers ask if I am a veteran, when I reply yes I get a handshake and a thank you. That is more meaningful to me than the medals and honors. Just a heartfelt thanks makes me proud to have served this nation.

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blue comment bubble Posted by edr351@aol.com on November 11, 2008 at 01:40 PM EST

Participated in an eleventh hour service at the Merrick Veterans Park. Had the honot of lowering the flag to half mast and then to the top again.
A Korean War Veteran with a salute to all my brother veterans.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Marshall on November 18, 2008 at 12:19 PM EST

This Veterans Day I spent a few minutes remembering my grandfather who was wounded at the battle of Chateau Thierry during World War I. To make the war less scary for me, he invented stories about a little French girl (who was always about my age), who befriended him in the midst of the war. His stories put a human face on the war for me, thinking of another little girl who was hungry and scared by all the fighting, but who found a friend in an American Marine.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Joanne on November 18, 2008 at 01:21 PM EST

Marshall, I hope you can write his stories down, so your decendents can share his experiences too. Stories like those are the stuff that family treasures are made of.

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