Quote from Forum Archives on November 10, 2006, 3:50 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

  "Remembrance/Veterans Day" 

 

On Monday, November 11, 1918 at 5 a.m., Germany signed the armistice swiftly ending the First World War. As the news spread, people around the world celebrated with impromptu parades and street parties.

 

The next year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, "a day to be filled with solemn pride". Each year following, November 11 was observed across the United States by veterans' parades, public services, and two minutes of silence to honor the dead.

 

In 1938 the U.S. Congress passed a bill that officially proclaimed November 11 Armistice Day. However, during and after World War II, Veterans' groups lobbied to make November 11 a date to honor all Americans who had fought in various wars. As a result, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day on May 24, 1954.

 

On November 11, 1921 at 11 a.m. — the eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour — the body of an American Unknown Soldier was lowered into a white marble sarcophagus at Arlington National Cemetery, which came to be known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In tribute to this symbol of all America's unknown dead, Americans across the country lowered their heads in a moment of silence and all flags were flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset. These traditions continue on to the present day.

 

 

  "Remembrance Day: November 11" 

 

Observed on November 11 in Canada, Remembrance Day honors those Canadians and Americans who served in different worldwide conflicts. Each year on November 11 at 11:00 a.m., Canadians lower their heads in a moment of silence as a tribute to those soldiers who fought in various battles throughout the world. In addition, the mysterious red poppy flower— which widely flourished among the graves of the dead in France and Belgium during the First World War — is worn by Canadians as a symbol of respect and remembrance.

 

 

"PLEASE WEAR A POPPY"

 

        

 

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

 

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

 

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

 

"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.

 

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.

 

"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

 

"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"

 

A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

 

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
Don Crawford

 

 

"The Common Soldier"

 

               

Nobody cared, when he went to war,
But the woman that cried on his shoulder;
Nobody decked him with immortelles;
He was only a common soldier.

 

Nobody packed in a dainty trunk
Folded raiment and officer's fair;
A knapsack held all the new recruit
Might own, or love, or eat, or wear.

 

Nobody gave him a good-by fete,
With sparkling jest and flower crowned wine:
Two or three friends on the sidewalk stood
Watching for Jones, the fourth in line.

 

Nobody cared how the battle went,
With the man that fought till the bullet sped
Through the coat undecked with leaf or star
On a common soldier left for dead.

 

The cool rain bathed the fevered wound,
And the kind clouds wept the live long night;
A pitying lotion Nature gave,
Till help might come with morning light —

 

Such help as the knife of the surgeon gives,
Cleaving the gallant arm from shoulder;
And another name swells the pension list
For the meager pay of a common soldier.

 

What matter how he served the guns
When plume and sash were over yonder?
What matter though he bear the flag
Through blinding smoke and battle thunder.

 

What matters though a wife and child
Cry softly for that good arm rent?
And wonder why that random shot
To him, their own, beloved, was sent?

 

O patriotic hearts, wipe out this stain;
Give jeweled cup and sword and no more;
But let no common soldier blush
To own the loyal wardrobe he wore.

 

Shout long and loud for victory won
By chief and leader stanch and true;
But don't forget the boys that fought
Shout for the common soldier too!

 

 

Take time to remember a Veteran this weekend.

Dave and Barbara

 

 

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