Veteran's Day

Yes, world, here it is again--Veteran's Day. A holiday
because we said so, because it needs to be, because
American servicemen and women are in harm's way
this sunny November morning, and no amount of
coverage on CNN, or politician's speech can fully
compensate for the price of Freedom.

As a veteran, as a former employee of the
Department of Veteran's Affairs, I always felt
this day was special, and continue to do so.

Glenn


Veterans Day falls on November 11. The holiday was established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 with the following statement:

“To us in America, the reflections of armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

November 11th was originally called Armistice Day because it was on this day in 1918 that the First World War came to an end. The armistice was signed at 11:00 a.m. on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. After four years of brutal trench fighting, 9 million soldiers had died and 21 million were wounded. It was called "The War to End All Wars" because it was the bloodiest war in history up to that point, and it made many people so sick of war that they hoped no war would ever break out again.

To honor those that serve our country, here are some Veterans Day quotes from That’s Famous:

The most persistent sound which reverberates through men’s history is the beating of war drums.
- Arthur Koestler

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
- Elmer Davis

I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.
- Gary Hart

Older men declare war. But its the youth who must fight and die.
- Herbert Hoover

The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war.
- Vijay Lakshmi Pandit