Remember.

[Tom Servo 0]

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

i don't know what that is

[will_marx 0]

Thank you Tom.

 

It's a reminder that on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Great War, the War to End All Wars, The First World War ended in an armistice.

Take a moment out of your busy schedule tomorrow (especially at 11am) to remember the brave men and women, regardless of whether they were Allies or Central Powers, Axis or Allies, Cold Warriors, Korean, Vietnam, Desert Shield or Global War on Terror combatants, who answered the call to defend their country. If you know a veteran, thank him or her for their service to the country.

 

And if you really need a reason why, just look at quote by Orwell in my signature.

Edited November 10, 2008 by will_marx

[STSF Seiben 0]

i don't know what that is

 

It's a plastic poppy that we wear in Canada (and the rest of the Commonwealth and UK) to remember the veterans that died on Rememberane Day, or to you Americans, Veterans Day. The poppy refers to the poem "In Flanders Field" written by Lt. Col John McCrae, a Canadian Colonel that served and died in World War I. I don't believe you guys down south wear poppies to remember veterans? I didn't see Barack Obama or President Bush wear them today at the White House.

 

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

[will_marx 0]

It's a plastic poppy that we wear in Canada (and the rest of the Commonwealth and UK) to remember the veterans that died on Rememberane Day, or to you Americans, Veterans Day

I don't believe you guys down south wear poppies to remember veterans? I didn't see Barack Obama or President Bush wear them today at the White House.

 

We do the poppies on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May (Observed or Actual) as part of our honoring our fallen soldiers. But I still keep the two I have in my car up all year round.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

Thank you for explaining :P

 

I support the troops with gratitude, and think everyone should, REGARDLESS of any political view.

[V'Roy 0]

I'm a veteran and I never heard of this wearing poppies thing.

 

When did Ned Flanders get his own field?

[will_marx 0]

I'm a veteran and I never heard of this wearing poppies thing.

 

When did Ned Flanders get his own field?

 

It's a Commonwealth tradition, VR, not really done here except around Memorial Day with the Legion and VFW. And wrong Flanders, Homer.

[V'Roy 0]

Why do we call it Veterans of Foreign Wars anyway? The last domestic war we fought was in 1865 and there aren't very many of those veterans around. Why do we need the distinction?

[will_marx 0]

I guess in the event that it crops up again?

[DrDMatthews 0]

Why do we call it Veterans of Foreign Wars anyway? The last domestic war we fought was in 1865 and there aren't very many of those veterans around. Why do we need the distinction?

 

 

The VFW traces its roots back to the Spanish American War. It came into its own around 1915. In those days, there weren't any benefits for servicemen who came home from the battlefields with injuries and illnesses. The VFW was organized to push the government to provide medical care, pensions, etc. to the veterans.

 

They probably called themselves veterans of "foreign" wars because there were a lot of civil war veterans still living in the early 1900s.

Edited November 27, 2008 by DrDMatthews