this veterans day

at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month of  the year 1918, the "war to end all wars" was concluded with an armistice, in a rail car near Compiegne, France.  this agreement ended hostilities between the allies and germany, but it was the treaty of Versailles that actually ended WWI.

the first armistice day was commemorated on  November 11, 1919, by presidential proclamation of  commander and chief  woodrow wilson who stated, "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."  this was a way to memorialize those who died during the great war.  a similar resolution was passed at congresses request by calvin coolidge on 4 june 1926.  armistice day became a legal holiday by act of congress on 13 may 1938.

the name of this holiday remained in effect until 1 june 1954, when congress official changed the name from armistice day to veterans day.  this was due to 9 years of work by WWII veteran raymond weeks, and honors all veterans, memorial day being the day we honor our fallen service members.

yesterday our town dedicated it's new veterans memorial, it took only 11 months to be constructed,  from ideas first being floated to the dedication ceremony.  on the black granite panels are the names of over 400 local residents who have died in military service to our country.

there has been a lot of talk this week about how "i'm fed up" and "i'm finished, my vote doesn't count for shit anyway."  really?  we lose an election and you are ready to curl up in a ball in some corner and die?

                            HARDEN THE FUCK UP AMERICA

there are men in the ground and wheel chairs and mental hospitals who willingly gave their best efforts and in many cases their lives, so that you could have a say in how you are governed.  read the stories from the revolution about the continental army, marching over frozen ground with rags on their feet, to fight the best army in the world at that point, so that they could establish our republic. go find a veteran and listen to him tell stories of friends made and lost in far off places.  then come tell me about lines at polling places being too long or your vote being worthless.

the freedoms we enjoy are not due to the "hard" work of journalists, politicians, lobbyists, lawyers or protesters, but rather the lowly grunt, who has been putting his feet in the mud and ass on the line for people he  largely does not even know, since 1775.

if you can read this thank a teacher, if you are reading it in english, thank a vet.