It Is The SOLDIER!
When The Country Has Been In Need,
It Has Always Been The Soldier!
It Is The Soldier, Not The Newspaper,
Who Has Given Us The Freedom Of Speech
It Is The Soldier, Not The Campus Organizer,
Who Has Given Us The Freedom To Demostrate
It Is The Soldier, Who Salutes The Flag,
And Serves Under The Flag
It Is The Soldier, Whose Coffin Is Draped With The Flag,
Who Allows The Protester To Burn The Flag
And It Is The Soldier Who Is Called Upon
To Defend Our Way Of Life
Author Unknown
The Above Poem First Appeared In The Special Forces Association Magazine
"The Drop" Fall 1998 Issue
Veteran's Day
Formerly Known As Armistice Day
Veteran's Day Is Dedicated To Honor All Men And Women
Both Living And Deceased, Who Have Served In The Nation's Armed Forces
It Is A Legal Federal Holiday In The United States
Veteran's Day Is Always Celebrated On November 11th
Regardless Of The Day Of The Week On Which It Falls
If The Date Falls On The Weekend The Nearest Weekday Is Observed
As The Holiday
For Example
If November 11th Falls On Saturday The Holiday Would Be
On Friday
Federal And Most State Employees In The United States Get The Day Off
From Work
History And Old Observance
On November 11 at 11 AM--1918 World War I Ended
On The Eleventh Hour Of The Eleventh Day Of The Eleventh Month
Peace Was Finally Reached
On November 11--1918
World War I Came To An End With The Signing Of An Armistice
The "War To End All Wars" Was At An End
In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson Proclaimed November 11th As Armistice Day To Remember The Sacrifices That Men And Women Made During The First World War To Ensure A Lasting Peace
Soldiers Who Survived Marched In Parades Through Their Hometowns And Veteran Officers Gave Speeches
After WW II It Continued To Be Observed On November 11th
In 1921
President Warren Harding Had The Remains Of An Unknown Soldier Killed In France Buried In Arlington Cemetery
He Requested That
"All Devout And Patriotic Citizens Of The United States Indulge In A Period Of Silent Thanks To God For These Valuable Valorous Lives And Of Supplication For His Divine Mercy And For His Blessings Upon Our Beloved Country"
Inscribed On The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Are The Words
"Here Lies In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God"
Armistice Day Was Made A Legal Holiday In The United States In 1938
Twenty Years After World War I Ended
In 1953 Townspeople In Emporia, Kansas, Called The Holiday Veteran's Day In Gratitude To The Veterans In Their Town
In 1954 The 83rd Congress Amended The Act Of 1938 And Armistice Day
Became Known As Veteran's Day
"To Honor (All) Veterans On The 11th Day Of November Of Each Year
A Day Dedicated To World Peace"
On June 1--1954
November 11th Was Established As The Official Observance
Of Veteran's Day
In 1971 President Richard Nixon Declared It A Federal Public Holiday On The Second Monday In November
Modern Observance
Veteran's Day Commemorates The Armistice That Ended World War I
And Honors Those Who Fought
It Is Known As Remembrance Day In Canada
In Some European Countries This Day Is Still Known As Armistice Day
And Still Commemorates The Signing Of The Armistice That Ended World War I
It Is Formerly Known As Armistice Day In The United States
Most Americans Observe A Moment Of Silence At 11 A.M. Remembering Those Who Fought For Peace
Originally This Day Honored Veterans Of World War I
But With World War II And The Korean War A Need To Honor All Veterans Became Clear
After The Vietnam War There Were Fewer Military Parades And Ceremonies
Today Veterans Gather At The Vietnam Veterans Memorial In Washington DC To Stand Quiet Vigil At The Names Of Their Friends Who Fell In That War
Special Services Are Held At The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier In Arlington National Ceremony, Virginia
Veterans Of Military Service Have Organized Support Groups Such As The American Legion And Veterans Of Foreign Wars
On Veterans Day And Memorial Day, These Groups Raise Funds For Their Charitable Activities By Selling Paper Poppies Made By Disabled Veterans
Poppies Are Associated With World War I And Armistice Day
These Red Bright Wildflowers Became A Symbol Of World War I After A Bloody Battle In A Field Of Poppies Called Flanders Field In Belgium
During World War II The Trenches Could Be Seen Across Fields Of
Brilliant Red-Orange Poppies
Wreaths Of Poppies Are Often Used As Gravesite Decorations On Veteran's Day
"In Flander's Fields"
By John McCrae
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
Never Forget!!!
COPYRIGHT © 2000-
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED