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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, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect. |
It was an ordinary day. Just put the flag out front to celebrate Veterans Day. I assume you know why we celebrate Veterans day, but just in case, here is some of the basic history of the day. World War I – 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. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” 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…" The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. Armistice Day was changed after World War II to Veterans Day in the United States and to Remembrance Day in the countries of the British Commonwealth, but remains Armistice Day in France and Belgium. Veterans Day is an official United States holiday honoring armed service veterans. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving. Well, I put my flag out front to honor all those who served for me by being a member of one of our military organizations. My dad and brother both served in the military, but I was never called to duty even though I was of prime age during the 60s when the United States was fighting in Vietnam. I graduated from high school in '62 and started college at Millersville State Teachers College in the fall of that year. I never got a deferment for any reason and at one time got a notice that I may be called for a physical. One day at Millersville a few buses pulled into the parking lot of the college and a line formed at the doors to the buses. Most all the guys who were in my class that morning had their names called and they entered one of the buses. Found out they were going for their physicals. Why my namae was never called remains a mystery to me. Over the next few years many of my friend returned from duty and told of the horror of serving in Vietnam. Some, sadly, never did return. I will always have those friends to thank for their service so that I can live in peace and freedom. Many times I have wished that I had been called to duty also, but there must have been a reason why I was not. I often wondered why I never volunteered as other friends did, but I never did. I will always remember that day at Millersville watching the bus pull out and everyone waving to me through the windows as I stood in the parking lot looking at them. Every year at this time I picture that memory and give thanks for all those who answered the call that day. MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| Photo I took at my son-in-law's football game. |
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| In front of LDub's house |
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