Veteran's Day

This holiday came into being after World War I to commemorate the signing of the armistice treaty ending that war, which was done at 11:00 o'clock on November 11. For a time it was called Armistice Day. That was supposed to be "the war to end all wars' but humanity is a contentious bunch and as the Bible says there will be "wars and rumors of wars" until the Armageddon. I think that must be a true prophecy. We need to advance and grow much more wise and good before the cycle will end.

I've often said before that I do not glorify or enjoy anything about war. it is ugly, brutal, horrific and a sad reflection upon humanity in general but it happens and there are times when violence, bullying and aggression have to be met in kind. In those times our soldiers are so important. Gordon Lightfoot in his song Don Quixote said it well; "see the soldier with his gun who must be dead to be admired."  Too often that is true.
So today we remember and honor all who have given so much since the birth of our nation to sustain and support our way of life and make us safe here at home. Only on a couple of occasions has our peace and security in our own land been broken--Pearl Harbor and 9-11. Those 'days of infamy' live in most memories and not happily. I was not around for the first but remember well the second.

This shot shows the Blue Angels (Navy flying team) going past the Statue of Liberty at an event a few years back. Both Navy and Marine pilots have flown in this elite group. The Navy and Marines are very closely affiliated but argue like kinfolk often do!

As a life member of the VFW Auxiliary, I took part in many ceremonies and commemorations of various dates important to the military community. Perhaps Veteran's Day is the greatest of these. I read this verse for one such remembrance back in 1986 when Post 10342, Huachuca City, AZ had just begun the color guard later to become state color guard for State and later National VFW Commander Allen "Gunner" Kent, who was a former Marine.

                     Veteran's Day

 I hear the drum roll in my mind

     and then I see, before, behind,

the Silent Legions marching past

   to join the Great Parade, at last....

 From Flanders Fields and Iwo's sands,

    from nameless near and distant lands

where they have fought, bled and died

   for to uphold the Nation's Pride

and secure the Peace and Liberty

  today enjoyed by you and me...

Each heart with praise should overflow

   and gladly search for ways to show

that we remember and we care

   and at least in spirit share

their sacrifice, their gift, their pain.

  We know they did not die in vain.

   

The torch still burns: we carry on

   the flame kept bright by those now gone.

They're marching still, they're fighting yet;

   and so must we...lest we forget.

             

Author's Note:  Written for a tribute for Veteran's Day 

and first recited at a ceremony held by VFW Post 10342 and its Ladies Auxiliary on 11 November 1986 in Huachuca City, Arizona.  Permission granted to use at no cost for any patriotic purpose supportive of the

sentiment in which it is written with credit of authorship to be given.  Published in an anthology by World of Poetry,         GMW. (c) 1986

BTW the photo of me was taken a couple of years later, when I was wearing that color guard's uniform. In keeping with our post being in Huachuca City, we called ourselves The Thunderguard and we were the only group in the VFW per a national commander at that time who had both post and auxiliary members in the same uniform! I was mostly the photographer but did march and carry a flag at times which I felt was a high honor. We had good esprit and for several years made a fine showing around southern Arizona.