Honoring Veterans on November 11, 2022-Uniting the US
4 responses | 0 likes
Started by metmike - Nov. 11, 2022, 6:27 p.m.

This could be the absolute least divisive topic in US politics today.

Our Veterans.

Both sides greatly honor and admire the sacrifices that they've given to our country. 

Everybody puts politics aside at ceremonies to honor our vets.  And for good reason, these men and women have given us everything, including their lives. 

Politicians and other people selling things for self serving interests often have big words and promises that they don't back up with actions.

Veterans, historically don't rely on words. They are all about actions. 

When the United States calls on them to serve, regardless of the circumstances.........regardless of the political disagreements about whether we should use them, regardless of where it is or what the dynamics are or what political party they belong to or even if they agree with the decision personally or not.........they ALWAYS answer the call because of their honor and the commitment to serve our country which is what they signed up for!



Comments
By metmike - Nov. 11, 2022, 6:31 p.m.
Like Reply

Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

History of Veterans Day

https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

 

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”


Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France.

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "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…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts

On that same day, President  Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

By metmike - Nov. 11, 2022, 6:38 p.m.
Like Reply

29 Veterans Day Facts Everyone Should Know

https://www.rd.com/list/veterans-day-facts/American Veteran holding a flag at 50th Anniversary of D-Day


25. So how many veterans are there in the United States right now? According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, there were around 19 million U.S. veterans as of 2021. We’re answering more of your war history questions ahead!

By metmike - Nov. 11, 2022, 6:45 p.m.
Like Reply









United States military casualties of war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war

Wars ranked by U.S. combat deaths

RankWarYearsDeaths
1World War II1941–1945291,557
2American Civil War1861–1865214,938
3World War I1917–191853,402
4Vietnam War1955–197553,220
5Korean War1950–195333,686
6American Revolutionary War1775–17838,000
7Iraq War2003–20114,424
8War of 18121812–18152,260
9War in Afghanistan2001–20211,833
10Mexican–American War1846–18491,733
U.S. combat deaths by war



World War II
291,557
American Civil War
214,938
World War I
53,402
Vietnam
47,434
Korean War
33,686
American Revolutionary War
8,000
Iraq War
3,836
War of 1812
2,260
War in Afghanistan
1,833
Mexican American War
1,733


Wars ranked by total number of U.S. military deaths

RankWarYearsDeathsDeaths per dayU.S. population in
first year of war
Deaths as percentage
of population
1American Civil War1861–1865655,000 (est.)(U.S./Confederate)[86]44931,443,0002.083% (1860)
2World War II1941–1945405,399297133,402,0000.307% (1940)
3World War I1917–1918116,516200103,268,0000.110% (1920)
4Vietnam War1961–197558,20911179,323,1750.032% (1970)
5Korean War1950–195336,57430151,325,0000.024% (1950)
6American Revolutionary War1775–178325,000112,500,0001.00% (1780)
7War of 18121812–181515,000158,000,0000.207% (1810)
8Mexican–American War1846–184813,2832921,406,0000.057% (1850)
9Iraq War2003–20114,5762294,043,0000.002% (2010)
10Philippine–American War1899–19024,1963.872,129,0010.006% (1900)
11War in Afghanistan2001–20212,4320.4294,043,0000.001% (2010)
12Spanish–American War18982,2469.662,022,2500.004% (1890)
By metmike - Nov. 11, 2022, 10:57 p.m.
Like Reply

Our 97 year old dad served honorably in the US Army at the end of WW2.

He's the farthest on the left in the 1st picture below.


Image preview


This was Dad almost 8 decades ago!

Image preview