posted on November 11, 2004 09:04:15 AM new
To each and every US veteran I give my heartfelt admiration and thanks to you, today as we celebrate Veterans Day.
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from the Federalist Patriot yesterday:
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We encourage our readers to set aside time to reflect on the sacrifice of our Patriot veterans and honor them accordingly.
On November 11th, 1921, an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in recognition of WWI veterans and in conjunction with the timing of cessation of hostilities at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). President Warren Harding requested that: "All...citizens...indulge in a period of silent thanks to God for these... valorous lives and of supplication for His Divine mercy...on our beloved country." Inscribed on the Tomb are the words: "Here lies in honored glory an American soldier know but to God." The day became known as "Armistice Day."
In 1954, Congress, wanting to recognize the sacrifice of veterans since WWI, proposed to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day in their honor. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander in WWII, signed the legislation.
To honor those veterans who sacrificed all, an Army honor guard from the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) keeps day and night vigil at Arlington. At 11 a.m. tomorrow, a combined color guard representing all military service branches executes "Present Arms" at the tomb for the laying of a wreath by the president. This is followed by "Taps."
The Defense Department has totaled one measure of the price of liberty -- almost 1.2 million members of our fighting forces have died while in service to our country since the American Revolution; 1.4 million have been wounded. The numbers, of course, offer no reckoning of the inestimable value of these individual citizens' lives, and the sacrifices borne by their families. But we do know their sacrifices defended a precious gift handed down to us -- the liberties we cherish. Every day -- but today especially -- let us always hold our veterans and their families in our hearts.
On this commemoration of Veterans Day, we encourage parents and teachers to visit the official Veterans Affairs website for instruction and learning aids on the history and significance of Veterans Day. Link to:http://www.appc1.va.gov/vetsday/
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SIGN AN OPEN LETTER TO AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES
The proud and the free because the American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman are standing in harm's way. For this, we, the American People, offer our heartfelt thanks. Link to:http://PatriotPetitions.US/USMIL
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2004 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
"Americans live in freedom because of our veterans' courage, dedication to duty, and love of country. On Veterans Day, we honor these brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces and defended our Nation.
Across America, there are more than 25 million veterans. Their ranks include generations of citizens who have risked their lives while serving in military conflicts, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the war on terror.
They have fought for the security of our country and the peace of the world. They have defended our founding ideals, protected the innocent, and liberated the oppressed from tyranny and terror. They have known the hardships and the fears and the tragic losses of war. Our veterans know that in the harshest hours of conflict they serve just and honorable purposes.
Through the years, our veterans have returned home from their duties to become active and responsible citizens in their communities, further contributing to the growth and development of our Nation. Their commitment to service inspires all Americans.
With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service men and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor veterans. Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2004, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 7 through November 13, 2004, as National Veterans Awareness Week. I urge all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in their communities.
I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs." --George W. Bush
posted on November 11, 2004 10:19:30 AM new
Done gladly... Americans again prove Pres Bush is the best man for the job
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
posted on November 11, 2004 10:43:55 AM new
Does this mean we should maybe honor our returning heroes by ending the government ban on photographing the returning caskets?
Does this mean that maybe we should honor them by ending the government ban (and please don't bother telling me it's not) on airing "Private Ryan" , one of the more realistic war movies made?
After all, it puts war up close and PERSONAL....shows what these soldiers really went through.
No, let's just listen to bush give some phony speech about how much he cares..................BS!
posted on November 11, 2004 12:11:39 PM new
Thanks bear. And thank you too for the service you gave to our country. We owe you a debt that can never [imo] be repaid. We honor those like you today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
On this Veterans Day, as we recognize all American soldiers who have served throughout our history, we need to pay special tribute to those recently returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly those who have suffered life-altering permanent disabilities.
Soldiers like Sgt. Jeremy Feldbusch, an Army Ranger who was blinded in Iraq when shrapnel hit him in the face. At the age of 24, this young man from Blairsville, Pa., joined the army to see the world; instead he will spend his days learning Braille and how to get around with a cane. Or Sgt. 1st Class Michael S. McElhiney, whose right arm was blown off in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when a bomb exploded 100 yards from where he stood. Or Army Sgt. Tyler Hall of Ft. Lewis, Wash., who lost his leg and suffered permanent brain damage when the truck convoy he was in struck an artillery shell in the road near Tikrit in Iraq.
Through September, more than 17,000 soldiers have been medically evacuated from the current war on terrorism, and more than 8,000 of those are combat disabled, according to the Pentagon. These disabled veterans are America's unsung heroes, and today there are more than 3 million of them. After their fighting ends, their personal battles begin. These men and women must struggle to regain health, reshape lives shattered by disability, learn new trades or professions, and rejoin the civilian world. Their wounds and scars and afflictions, both physical and emotional, serve as daily reminders of the cost of war.
Regrettably, America's soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who have been grievously injured in war do not receive the attention they deserve in our country. They are continually being shortchanged by federal budget cuts --
in fact, President Bush's 2006 budget reportedly calls for cutting the Department of Veterans Affairs staff that handles disability benefits for American troops returning from war.
As thousands of American soldiers are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with physical injuries and mental health problems, it is unconscionable that they might now have to worry about navigating a totally overloaded system. Year after year, sick and disabled veterans must struggle against heavy odds to make their voices heard -- both our government and we citizens need to do a better job of meeting our obligations to them.
It is also time for us to pay fitting tribute to those who have been forever changed in service to our country. Indeed, it has never been timelier to talk about the need for a permanent memorial in Washington to recognize these unsung heroes. A memorial in our nation's capital will stand as a physical reminder that we must not forget. It will ensure that these veterans are eternally recognized for what they have given for our country.
In 2000, President Clinton authorized the creation of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, the site upon which to build the memorial has been officially selected, and a design concept has been approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The plan is under review by the National Capital Planning Commission.
Washington has many fitting monuments to fallen soldiers from the conflicts our county has been involved in, and there are monuments to our founding fathers. But nothing for the living disabled veterans. We have a solemn obligation to assure these Americans who have given so much more than was asked of them, that they will never be neglected or forgotten. While the memorial moves through the planning review, a major capital campaign is under way to raise the funds to make this memorial come to life. It will cost $65 million -- none of which will come from the government.
When this memorial is finally completed, it will be our gift to the millions of men and women, like Jeremy Feldbusch, Michael McElhiney and Tyler Hall, who continue to bear the scars of war long after the guns have fallen silent and the memory of their sacrifice has faded from the public's consciousness. May these heroes be unsung no more.
Lois Pope is chairwoman of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation (www.disabledveteranslifememorial.org).
posted on November 11, 2004 12:31:07 PM new
Can't just have a thread to say and send thanks to our troops can we? Nope...doesn't look like it. The far left, rather than honor our troops, has to use them for their own political agenda.
Here we go again...this President has not only NOT cut benefits he has increased them more in 4 years that clinton did in 8 year. He will not be cutting benefits in 2006 either. Just more democratic spin for false claims and more false accusations from the left who don't support our military anyway.
And NO vet is forgotten....those currently fighting, those injured, those who've died nor those from past war/conflicts. It's all a continuing effort to make the President look like he doesn't support our troops when he most definately does.
How shameful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
It's really not appropriate to display your animosity toward me by criticizing my contribution on a thread intended to honor and show respect for American veterans on Veterans Day.
posted on November 11, 2004 12:57:49 PM new
ROFL - helen....you're just too funny at times.
So I take it that you did sign the petition thanking our vets for their service to our country.
And also that even though you posted an article trying to make it look like there have been and are going to be budget cuts to our veterans - a common democrat mistruth, you do agree that there have been **no budget cuts** to our vets since this President took office. Only increases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on November 11, 2004 01:31:28 PM new
Let's not forgot today is also Remembrance Day in Canada.
Q. What's the difference between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War?
A. George W. Bush had a plan to get out of the Vietnam War.
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There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 11, 2004 07:58:03 PM newIt's really not appropriate to display your animosity toward me by criticizing my contribution on a thread intended to honor and show respect for American veterans on Veterans Day.
And lets not forget Helen's proud militaty service.
Americans again prove Pres Bush is the best man for the job
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The person who has nothing for which he is willing
to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill
