NANA'S MEMORIES

What is Veterans Day? Originally called Armistice Day to commemorate cessation of fighting between the Allied Forces and Germany, it was later named Veterans Day. November 11th has been set aside each year as a day of remembrance to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The History Channel runs a documentary on the Vietnam War from time to time. This is the war that plays most prominently in my mind. It is my generation's war. It is the war I saw broadcast nightly with my dad. It is the war that killed men from my generation. It is the one where friends of mine returned home with missing limbs. It is brought to my mind when I listen to my sixties station. Everything about that war saddens me. Descent down the side of Hill 742, northwest of  Dak To November 14-17, 1967 Beginning with my grandparents, each generation has been affected by war. Until I ran across the photo...

Our Veterans Day this year is 11.11.11 . Although officially ending in 1919, the fighting during World War I, also known as "The Great War", ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month . November 11, 1918 became known as the end of "the war to end all war." A year later in November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.  Armistice Day was approved as a legal holiday May 13, 1938 making November 11 th of each year a day dedicated to the the cause of world peace and was primarily set aside to honor veterans of World War I. But in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation's history and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice...