Large Scale Central

Veterans' Day

General Discussion
#1

We commemorated our Commonwealth Remembrance Day today, all over the globe, on the sunday nearest to 11/11. So did our allies - those whose countries had been invaded and occupied, and partly destroyed…in World War 1, France and Belgium, and in World War 2, France and Belgium again, added to The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. And, particularly in UK, all our brave men and women, over 16,000 of them, who have died in wars since 1945 - Palestine, Korea, China, the Malaysian Peninsula, Borneo, Aden, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Gulf War 1 & 2, Kosovo and Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Soon, you will be doing the same in the USA.

On that day, remember those who went away and did not come back.

Or those that did, broken in mind or body.

Or those who are simply names on a wall somewhere, or a plaque somewhere, or an old photograph, somewhere.

As you stand, or sit, remember them all.

‘Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember’.

and in remembering them, think about thse lines on the Kohima Ridge Memorial…

When you go home, tell them of us and say,
“for your tomorrow we gave our today”

tac

#2

As I set here in South Korea on verterns day I set here and think about how lucky I am to have served during Iraqi freedom. I made it through the whole tour without being shot or killed. I know what its like to see the destruction of war. I saw it everyday as I was assigned to a mortuary affairs company. I handled close to 50 fallen americans and during that time all I could think of was how heart breaking it must be for these fallen american’s families. I think that is why I am still serving on Active Duty. I want to honor the fallen and those vet’s on here I say thank you for serving and it is a pleasure to serve for you today. If it wasnt for me going to war I probably would have never go into this hobby.

#3

Our thanks to YOU, Brooks!!!

#4
Terry A de C Foley said:
... and in World War 2, France and Belgium again, added to The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. ...
Terry, and not to forget - Poland. Almost 250.000 strong military force in the West, over 200.000 in the East, 200.000-300.000 at home (AK - Home Army) In total, I believe, the 6th military Allied force in size after USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Soviet Union. But it is not necessarily the size that matters, if it weren't for "the September Campaign" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland_(1939), the West would have seen the Germans knocking on the doors much earlier and who knows if the Battle of Britain would have been won, had it happened 9 months earlier (and without the 12% total victories in the Battle (126) by the 5% Polish pilots?) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_contribution_to_World_War_II ...? I suspect, Winston Churchill actually meant these Polish pilots, when he said his famous "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" ;-)))... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_was_so_much_owed_by_so_many_to_so_few Just my biased opinion;-), looking forward to seeing you in Tokyo, Zubi
#5

Hello TAC,

We have Memorial Day to remember and Honor the ones who did not return.
Veterans Day is to honor the ones who survived and returned home alive or
at least mostly alive.

Is Remembrance Day to honor both or is there seperate days of honor for
each as there is here?

Brooks,

Thank you for your service young man. I know the place well, spent 13 months at K8 in 65-66

Zubi,

The greatness of those words is there universal application. We always thought they
referred to us, Military Working Dog Handler Teams.

Later

Rick Marty

#6
Rick Marty said:
Hello TAC,

We have Memorial Day to remember and Honor the ones who did not return.
Veterans Day is to honor the ones who survived and returned home alive or
at least mostly alive.

Is Remembrance Day to honor both or is there seperate days of honor for
each as there is here?

Rick Marty


Rick, while I am sure that Terry will provide you an answer independently from me, let me quickly explain that 11th of November holiday is the original Armistice Day of the First World War. In some allied countries this holiday later developed to commemorate specifically those members of the armed forces who were killed during war, as the Remembrance Day in the British Commonwealth. But it remains and Armistice Day in France and Belgium, it seems. The Veteran Day in the USA is probably closer to the original Armistice Day than to the Remembrance Day. Coincidentally, 11 November is also a much celebrated National Day in Poland, called Polish Independence Day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
Germany has its Volkstrauertag: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkstrauertag
So, really, Armistice Day only applies to the First World War at least in the countries where it is still celebrated in its original meaning.

Rick Marty said:
Zubi,

The greatness of those words is there universal application. We always thought they
referred to us, Military Working Dog Handler Teams.

Later

Rick Marty


Rick, these words may be re-applied in such a universal context (and I am sure would then also apply to you and your Teams) but they were said by Churchill with a very specific meaning in mind. Actually, my ‘interpretation’ of these words is with a huge tongue in cheek sign - which in order to understand, you would need to know some more facts such as these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_London_Victory_Parade
http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla/Victory_parade.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Betrayal

However, in the context of the explanation above, my comments do not quite apply to Armistice Day anyway, since they refer to WWII. In fact, things get somewhat complicated in WWII as all the countries listed as allies by Terry had their units in the German Armed Forces, see e.g. http://www.feldgrau.com/

Best, Zubi