A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....Veteran's Day, November 11, 2002

Mama_Bear and Billie

[Billie]

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the llth Month

Veterans Day November 11, 2002

God Bless Our Country....
....God Bless Our Veterans







.

Honoring Veterans Everywhere....
....Picturing Some of FR's



The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America's veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day".

Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holidiay 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was "the War to end all Wars," November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.

Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea, Congress was requested to make this day an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

We Will Never Forget

Every year the President of the United States urges All Americans to honor the commitment of our Veterans through appropriate public ceremonies.

Taps

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night.

Composed By Major General Daniel Butterfield. Army of the Potomac, Civil War. Major General Butterfield is buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Thank you, Veterans, and thank you, FReepers, for all you have done to preserve our freedom in America. A thank you, too, to Mama_Bear, who provided the information for today's thread when I wasn't sure what to 'do' for Veteran's Day today. I had the background done, and the layout, but it was as far as I had gotten when she came to the rescue. : ) Thank you, Lori, I know how much the Military means to you and everyone who participates here.

God Bless All, Past and Present.

THIS WEEKEND's THREAD

11-09,10-02 Week in Review

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[LadyX]

Thank you, Daisy.
I'm watching the ceremony at Arlington with a REAL Commander-in-Chief.

It is a solemn day filled with memories - relatives who served - boys I dated while stationed at Parris Island who went to combat in Korea - the years as a military wife - could go on for hours.

I am one with my America ~ ~ proud, and at peace.

[Billie]

Good morning, jw. You just about named them all - no Air Force blood? :)

[Billie]

Good morning, sunrise man. You have FReepmail.

[WSGilcrest]

[Temple Owl]

Darn! Our Veterans Day Parade in Media PA., featuring members of the E Company Band of Brothers has been called off because of rain. Well here's a salute anyway.

[mhking]

I can't check for it - I've got sound turned off from behind the firewall here; I won't be able to look until I get home this evening.

[Billie]

Thank you so much, Moose, and what a terrible tragedy for the friends and family of Joseph Tobul. Prayers for comfort for them. Thank you for the photos.

[Militiaman7]

Billion$ For Baghdad - Nothing For Veterans

WASHINGTON (Oct. 31, 2002) - "I just don't get it!" American Legion National Commander Ronald F. Conley said, referring to the failure of congressional conferees to ignore the specter of a presidential veto and to approve concurrent-receipt legislation before Election Day.

"President George W. Bush said we have billions of dollars to rebuild Baghdad, not to mention Afghanistan," said Conley, whose 2.8-million member Legion is the nation's largest veterans organization. "At the same time, his non-veteran advisors are saying they will encourage him to veto any legislation that corrects the inequity of concurrent receipt, because it is a budget buster. Well, 402 House members and 82 Senators did not think so when they voted for correcting a 100-year-old travesty. The travesty is that service-disabled military retirees, by law, are the only group of Americans who have to give up their retirement pay dollar-for-dollar to collect their disability pay."

The 2003 National Defense Authorization that conferees will deal with after the election contains concurrent-receipt provisions that would allow service-disabled military retirees to receive their full military retired pay as well as their disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under a federal law passed in the 1890s, service-disabled military retirees receive a cut in their retired pay equivalent to their VA disability compensation.

Consider the case of two service members in the same wartime military unit. One is injured during military service, leaves the military after a five-year enlistment and is awarded VA disability compensation while working a federal civilian job, and continues to collect full disability after retirement.

The other is injured also, and is given a disability rating by VA after retiring with 20 years of military service. Both veterans are federal retirees. But the military retiree is the only federal retiree that receives a cut in retired pay equal to the amount of disability compensation.

"Obviously this is wrong," Conley said. "I'll tell you something else that's wrong. Two weeks before a major national election, the power brokers in Congress stalled the conference committee, so that no version of concurrent receipt could reach the president's desk prior to November 5th.

"These same non-veteran advisors to the president claim that paying disability and retirement would jeopardize national defense. My response to that is this: There is money budgeted in the House version and even if there wasn't, no civilized nation can afford to send its young men and women to war, and then play the budget shell game with them after 20 or 30 years of service defending our nation.

"What signal does this send our brave young men and women who are now going to war? Is it, 'Don't get wounded, don't get shot, and don't get ill, because we didn't budget for that?' If we didn't budget for concurrent receipt, then perhaps we should rebuild the Baghdads of this world tomorrow and take care of our veterans today.

"It is the same old story as told by the English poet Rudyard Kipling, when speaking about the British soldiers referred to as Tommys when he said: 'Tommy this and Tommy that. Chuck him out, the brute. But he is the savior of his country when the guns begin to shoot.'"

Copied from the American Legion Website

[Libertina]

Good morning all, breakfast is ready so I'll be right back - but God Bless our brave Veterans and their supportive families! :) And another great job, Desiging Women!

[Mama_Bear]

I am bringing your post (#221) and my reply over to today's thread. :-)

---

A salute to all veterans, those who have fallen in the service of our country and those who have served or are currently serving us to sustain our peace.

God bless all of you!

Thank you, Salvation, for joining us in paying respects to our Veterans today.

Thank God, this is true!

[larryjohnson]

Watching Veterans Day ceremonies on TV is good for our soul and mental health. Thanks for your Service and here's to our good physical health, as well.

[rdb3]

[LadyX]

Yes, it is a good thing, if heart-wrenching.
Thank you for your service, too, Oh Watcher of the First Light!

[mtngrl@vrwc]

A big thank you to all members of the military today, past and present! I appreciate all of the sacrifices you made or are making in your service to our country! Freedom isn't free and you helped us preserve our freedoms. Thank you!

[jwfiv]

Ooops, I'm so embarassed, yes, my dear Uncle Ken, served in the USAF for 20 years.

I've got family that fought for the Colonies during the Revolution, and then on both sides of the great and tragic Civil War.

I was late getting to work this morning, just couldn't leave home while the President was speaking at Arlington...he gets me to bawlin' like a baby, sometimes...sheesh.

Old Glory looks extra beautiful today.

[JulieRNR21]

In respect & gratitude to all America's Veterans who have answered the call to serve.

And in special remembrance of all those who gave their lives that we might live free!

A Special Tribute

I Called You Answered Thank God

Thanks to Doc at: http://www.geckocountry.com/milgraphics.htm
And ST.LOUIE1

[The Thin Man]

Nice job, Billie and Mama_Bear. Excellent tribute.

A big THANK YOU to all our Veterans on this special day.

[Mama_Bear]

Hi, T Man. Thanks for joining us in honoring our Veterans today. Always nice to see you here. :-)

[ValerieUSA]

Beautiful thread - gorgeous graphics
Veteran's Day, 2002

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning from VA Beach!

Good morning to you! My dad was stationed at Norfolk Naval Base, so I know the Virginia Beach area well. I graduated from Granby High School (many moons ago, LOL!).

Please tell your husband that we appreciate so much what he does. I know that military families also serve and sacrifice, so thank you for your service too. :-)