Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I where major hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, and the Armistice with Germany went into effect. In the US, the public holiday is celebrated today allowing for a 3-day weekend. Most governmental offices, schools and banks are closed, and mail delivery will be halted. The holiday was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 26, 1954 honoring all veterans who served in the Armed Forces. Typically celebrated as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in European countries, Major US veteran organizations urged the day be renamed Veterans Day in 1954 and thus Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since. The attributive case (rather than the possessive) is the officially correct spelling “because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, but rather a day to honor all veterans. Using the apostrophe is however grammatically correct.
Today we celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans, while May’s Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.
The Ranch hands and I tip our hats to all veterans who have served their country and hope this opportunity brings people together. As you probably heard, we had an election last week, one that has continued to further rip into the democracy that binds us. I pray we can use this day to stitch back that torn fabric through service intended to help others. Until we can accept everyone for their differences, we will never recognize the areas where we are the same. A country where we all long for safety for our families and our country. Where we all breathe the same air and enjoy the freedom provided by those who served their entire country, and not just those who agree with their political stripes. Today we pray that the process of coming together as a nation begins.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
I join you in hoping for a united future. You are right there are always more ways we are alike than different – or at least I hope so.
What a beautiful post! Veterans give so much and yet ask so little!
I managed to make it back to church for the Silence, and the Ode so I was able to share in the last part of the Remembrance Day Service and silently gave thanks for the clear and uneventful drive up from Adelaide.
Yes, Thank You! to all those who serve our great country, and every country where Democracy reigns.
If Dan Crenshaw and Pete Davidson can come together like they did this last week, then there might just be hope for us yet! Real leaders need to step up, and kick these asshats to the curb! just sayin’…
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
Thank you for this beautiful post!
Dogs don’t send puppies to war. We can learn a lot from dogs.
Beautifully said!
We are so glad veterans are not treated badly like they were during the Vietnam War. They deserve so much
Well stated … and a tip of the cap to the work done by the Knucklehead and partner.
In Canada we call it Remembrance Day, too. No matter what it is called, it is right that we honour all those who served…
Well done, Monika!
My Amazon order was delivered today….soooo…I guess they are working 😉
What a lovely history of Veterans Day. Thank you.
Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the pups. ♥
I pray with you!
Well said. God bless our veterans, and hope for a world where there never needs to be a veteran at all.
Very well said, Monika!! Certain members of our federal government prefer to keep us divided; but those of us who cherish our country, our freedoms, and our democracy need to keep up the fight to “preserve, protect, and defend”.
Those who believe in numerology would have ended the war at 11:11 on 11/11/2011 and that would have been WAY too late.
That was all very beautifully said. Where would we be if not for all those who have fought to preserve our freedom? It seems like we’ve lost track of what we mean as a country. I also hope that can be healed starting today.
we say thank you to all people and animals… and we hope we will find a way to live in peace now …