Veterans Day

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month an Armistice was signed to end the carnage of World War I. November 11th became Armistice Day cross much of the world but Wold War II caused the day to morph into Veteran's Day instead because what's the point in honoring an Armistice agreement that wasn't adhered to?

There is a point in honoring the Veterans who fought in both these wars and others or who have worn the uniform. Recently saw this description of what makes a "veteran":

"A 'Veteran' - whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve - is someone who, at one point at his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'the United States of America', for an amount up to and including his or her life."

The men and women who risk or who have given this "last full measure of devotion" are more than worthy of a Day in their honor.

By the way, that railway car used to sign the Armistice in 1918 was later used by Hitler as the venue chosen for the French to sign their surrender to the Nazi in World War II.

Veteran's Day

In Flanders Fields

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- The testing of a kilometer long space tether. Cool technology and as an aside space junk will become a major issue in the coming decades.

- Russ Roberts on Transience and Transcendence

- Interesting - If Joker met Jordan Peterson

- The original and true meaning of the poem Flanders Field

- Remembrance on Veteran's Day

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

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Interesting profile in the NYT of Shane Parrish and his Farnham Street blog. Forget how I found Shane's blog and podcast but I'm really glad I did.

- Jocko Willink's Veteran's Day message. Should be must reading for everyone.

- Good look at the year Drew Brees is having and how it could change how people look at his legacy.

- Speaking of Shane Parrish - the surprising power of the long game.

- Heh Heh

- 10 amazing facts about Stan Lee

- Speaking of Stan Lee - I think this photo sums up how many of us felt at the news of passing

Veteran's Day

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month an Armistice was signed to end the carnage of World War I. November 11th became Armistice Day cross much of the world but Wold War II caused the day to morph into Veteran's Day instead because what's the point in honoring an Armistice agreement that wasn't adhered to?

There is a point in honoring the Veterans who fought in both these wars and others or who have worn the uniform. Recently saw this description of what makes a "veteran":

"A 'Veteran' - whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve - is someone who, at one point at his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'the United States of America', for an amount up to and including his or her life."

The men and women who risk or who have given this "last full measure of devotion" are more than worthy of a Day in their honor.

By the way, that railway car used to sign the Armistice in 1918 was later used by Hitler as the venue chosen for the French to sign their surrender to the Nazi in World War II.

Veterans Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th day of the 11th month and armistice was signed in 1918 ending what was known then as the Great War but what we now call World War I. To commemorate the end of the war -  Armistice Day was created but this was later changed to Veterans Day which we celebrate today. The aim of the holiday is not just to act as a salute to our veterans but also as a day of remembrance of those who gave their last full measure of devotion .

With the idea of remembrance the site Every One Remembered was created  to recognize, acknowledge and remember the ultimate sacrifice made by 1.1 million service men and women in World War 1.

I did my part by remembering Christopher Lynch a 37-year old Irishman who died on November 18, 1918 (five days after the Armistice was signed). "We will remember them. Today, Tomorrow, Forever."

Liam Clancy - Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Seemed like a good song to remind some on this day of remembrance of the price veterans can pay.

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all the veterans out there. Your service is greatly appreciated.

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all the veterans out there. Is service is greatly appreciated.

Veterans Day Links

Some links on this Veterans Day that are worth your time,. To all the veterans out there - thank you for your service!

- A list of athletes who served

- In Flanders Fields

- The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month

- Donald Rumsfeld's Veteran's Day Wishes. Rumsfeld is himself a veteran.

- Amen

Veteran's Day - In Flanders Fields

Veteran's Day started out as Armistice Day which marked the end of World War I. In Flanders Fields is perhaps the most storied poem coming out of that war. Here's the story behind it:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow      Between the crosses, row on row,   That mark our place; and in the sky   The larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,   Loved and were loved, and now we lie         In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throw   The torch; be yours to hold it high.   If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow         In Flanders fields.

Memorial Day Challenge: Ryan's Story

Wow. Just wow.

I can recall being in Washington D.C. on Memorial Day one year. Visiting the Vietnam Memorial was one of the most overwhelming experiences in my life. The emotion was so overwhelming I felt claustrophobic in the open air.

The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

In 1918 at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the most bloody war in the history of mankind came to an end. The "official" paperwork would later be signed a few months later at Versailles but this "armistice" on November 11th is widely regarded as the end of the war.

Twenty years later Congress made Armistice Day an official national holiday. By 1954 the holiday's name was changed to Veteran's Day because the promise that World War I would be the "war to end all wars" proved to be false.

It should be noted that the armistice signed this day 93-years ago was signed in a railroad carriage at Compiagne, France. This place was chosen because it was where the Germans had previously dictated surrender terms to France to end the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. Many people fail to remember how that earlier war in 1871 sparked the war in 1914.

The onerous terms placed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles are credited with helping the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany and with putting in motion the events that led to World War II. And the roots of the Korean War and the Vietnam War can be traced to the end of World War II.

It should further be noted that much of underlying structure and strife in the Middle East can be traced back to the end of World War I as most of the modern boundaries of the Middle East emerged from the end of the war including the boundaries of modern Iraq.

In many ways we are still feeling the ripples from the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Too bad too few remember.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Cam Newton Price is Right

- This might be the most badass man that has ever lived

- Kentucky man in dispute over tractor forced to eat his own beard at gunpoint. I am reminded about the old joke about being arrested in Kentucky for smuggling books but getting off on a technicality because nobody could prove they were books.

- Bad Gifts

- Live long and prosper

- Cool animation

- A list of athletes who served (I meant to post this yesterday)

- The Buffalo Herd Theory of Beer Drinking

- Drew Brees on Veterans Day (also meant to post this yesterday)

- Pat Sajak regrets horrible, horrible mistake

- Where's Mommy ???