11/11/11 - Not the mystical but the heroic

The date is 11/11/2011. The eleventh day of the eleventh month in the eleventh year of the new century. (Actually it is the 12th year, but lets not tell the mystically inclined.) But today is special for another reason.

It is Veteran's Day. Ninety-three years ago, on November 11, 1918, hostilities ended in a cease fire and armistice for the 'war to end all wars.' A year later, the President (Woodrow Wilson), officially proclaimed it to be Veteran's Day, a day "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…"

And in 1967, this was the day that the North Vietnamese released prisoner's of war. Unfortunately, they didn't release them all. Still, on the 48th Veteran's Day, it should have been a event cheered by the public. It wasn't. VietNam vets are only recently getting the recognition for serving their country that they should have gotten decades ago.

Let us hope that the vets who serve today will never know the denigration received by those earlier brave patriots.

But no matter how you view this day's, as a observed holiday where no government offices or banks are open, or whether you know its history and significance, try stop for a moment to think of all the things you enjoy because there are those who have served and are willing to serve in the protection of this country and the American way of life.

Thank a veteran today, or write a letter to one, or just think about how much they sacrifice in order for you to stop by the coffee shop on your way to work, cross state lines without having to 'produce papers' or even say negative things about your government without fear of being roused in the middle of the night and made to disappear. All the freedoms you have available to you are secured and kept safe by those who 'stand guard at the wall and on the front line.'

This is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles