WE REMEMBER AND HONOR

 The authors who blog for Sweet Americana Sweethearts remember and pay tribute to those who served and those who gave their lives in in wars to protect freedom.

• Veterans Day
• Remembrance Day 

 

11-11-11 by Zina Abbott

Eleventh month.

Eleventh day.

Eleventh hour.

In 1918, after four years of one of the most devastating wars the world had ever known, the fighting came to an end on November 11th at 11:00a.m.

 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918.

This day is a day, not so much of celebration, but of commemoration and remembrance in many nations.

 

Veterans Day has been officially recognized in the U.S. as a day to remember and honor those who have served honorably in the military during war or peacetime.

One hundred years ago, in November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "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 day was originally called Armistice Day. It was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower. For more information regarding the progression of Veterans Day to the holiday observance we know it as today, please CLICK HERE.

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

In 1868, the Veterans Day observance was moved to the fourth Monday in October to allow for a three day holiday. Due to the unpopularity among the American people of this decision, because of the significance of the date, President Gerald Ford moved it back to November 11th, no matter what day of the week the holiday fell on.

Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but this day is especially set aside to give thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably. 

WW1 Veteran Joseph Ambrose at age 86 holding the flag he was given for his son who died in Korea.

Here are some interesting facts from History.com which was updated just a few days ago:

*  Veterans Day commemorates veterans of all wars.

*  Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November).

 
*  In Europe, Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11.

*  Every Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual memorial service. The cemetery is home to the graves of over 400,000 people, most of whom served in the military.

Here are some facts about the veteran population of the United States:

*  18.2 million living veterans served during at least one war as of 2018.

*  9 percent of veterans are women.

*  7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War.

*  3 million veterans have served in support of the War on Terrorism.

*  Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, about 496,777 were still alive as of 2018.

*  Connecticut was home to the highest percentage of World War II veterans as of 2018 at 7.1 percent.

*  2 million veterans served during the Korean War.

*  As of 2017, the top three states with the highest percentage of Veterans were Alaska, Maine and Montana, respectively.

Let us all take some time this day to remember our own veterans in our family—those living and those who have passed on—and give thanks to those who fought for our nation.

My thanks go to the veterans in my family.

My most recently published book is not about veterans. It is a Christmas romance, Book 18 in the Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs series, 

Two Sisters and the Christmas Groom. 

For the book description and purchase link, please CLICK HERE.

  

Sources:

https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

A Day to Honor Veterans

World War I, which was known at the time as “The Great War”, officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. It is still known by that name in many nations.

To read President Woodrow Wilson’s speech concerning this recognition, you may find it on Wikipedia by CLICKING HERE. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

The Uniform Holiday Bill was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Including Veterans Day as a Monday holiday became unpopular, so it was changed to the actual day. Only, this year, with November 11th falling on Sunday, as a holiday, it is observed today, Monday the twelfth.

While the holiday is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements (spellings that are grammatically acceptable), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website states that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans."

Veterans Today 

The military men and women who serve and protect the U.S. come from all walks of life; they are parents, children, grandparents, friends, neighbors and coworkers, and are an important part of their communities. Here are some facts about the veteran population of the United States:

• 16.1 million living veterans served during at least one war.

• 5.2 million veterans served in peacetime.

• 2 million veterans are women.

• 7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War.

• 5.5 million veterans served during the Persian Gulf War.

• Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, about 558,000 are still alive. (2014)

• 2 million veterans served during the Korean War.

• 6 million veterans served in peacetime.

• As of 2014, 2.9 million veterans received compensation for service-connected disabilities.

• As of 2014, 3 states have more than 1 million veterans among their population: California (1.8 million), Florida (1.6 million) and Texas (1.7 million).

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

Wikipedia

In addition to my grandfather who served during The Great War, my father and my uncle who served during World War II, I also wish to honor my own sweetheart who served in Viet Nam.

My Millwright’s Daughter as a single has gone live today. It is part of the anthology, Undera Mulberry Moon which is still available for a short time. If you read it as part of the anthology and would like to leave a review for it as a single, I would greatly appreciate it. You may view the book page on Amazon including the place to add your review by CLICKING HERE.

Here is the book description:

After the death of her mother in 1882, Eliza Wells goes to live with her grandmother, Caroline Arnold, whom her parents named as her guardian. Not long after her grandmother has a stroke, her uncle, Joseph Wells from Kerr’s Ferry, California, whom she has never met in person, arrives in Ohio and whisks her away for a visit with family while her grandmother recovers.

At first Eliza enjoyed visiting her cousins in California. Now she grows concerned at her uncle’s repeated refusals to arrange for her transportation home. Her grandmother has not replied to her letters, so Eliza can no longer look to her for help.

Since Caroline, slowly recovering from her stroke, has heard nothing from her granddaughter in months, she hires Kit Halsey, a former railroad detective, to find her granddaughter and bring her home. He agrees, for what he will receive in pay for the job will put him through law school.

Joseph urges Eliza to spend time with his business associate, Daniel Irwin, almost fifteen years her senior. Unlike her cousin, Eliza does not care for Daniel. The only man for whom she feels an attraction is the new freight driver, Kit Halsey.

Startling details from the past come to light, and the only person Eliza can turn to for help is Kit—if he is willing to risk his future to save her.