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| VETERANS DAY |
| Remembering Our Veterans and Selfless Service to Our Country� |
| November 11 |
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| I would like to dedicate this Veterans Day page to all of my family members, friends, and all those that have faithfully served their country during wartime and peacetime. May God bless them all. |
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Wartime Veterans E.E. Schroeder USS Idaho WW II Thomas L. Schneider 1942-1946 WW II James H. Barber Army Korean Conflict - 1946 POW Gordon Chittester Army Korean Conflict Gordon Conley Korean Conflict Robert L. Dillon USMC Korean Conflict Martin Nelson Sr. USAR Berlin Crisis 1962 *SGM Raymond Chittester � USAR Viet Nam 1967-68 � USMC Gerald Reddecliff Army Viet Nam 1968-69 Roy Salau Viet Nam Jim Morgan Viet Nam Robert Haddow Viet Nam *SFC Martin Nelson Jr. USMC Desert Storm |
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| Origins of Veterans Day |
| In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America's veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day". Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was "the War to end all Wars," November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle. Armistice Day changed to Honor All Veterans Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea, Congress was requested to make this day an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War. In 1973, a law passed providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but none was found for several years. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the others. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, The 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. National Ceremonies Held at Arlington The focal point for official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath. The bugler plays "taps." The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater. The focal point for official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath. The bugler plays "taps." The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater. Every year the President of the United States urges all Americans to honor the commitment of our Veterans through appropriate public ceremonies. For more information on Veterans Day, visit: http://www.va.gov/vetsday/ http://www.vfw.org/amesm/origins.shtml http://www2.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/vetsday/vetshist.htm |
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| In Flanders Fields 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. by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918) Canadian Army For more information on �Flanders Field�, visit: http://home.iae.nl/users/robr/poppies.html http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/flanders.htm |
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| America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self the country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America ! America ! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee! O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life ! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee! ~Katharine Lee Bates~ wrote the original version in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913. http://www.fuzzylu.com/falmouth/bates/home.htm |
Peacetime Veterans George Nelson, Jr. � USAR Edwin Nelson � USAR Joseph Nelson, Sr. � USAR Joseph Nelson, Jr. � USMC Blaine Hoover - USAR Paul Hoover � USN Michael Hoover - Army Timothy Spencer - USN James Chittester, Sr. � USN Johnny Chittester � USAR John Chittester � Army *Dominic Martin � USMC David Martin - USAR Robert L. Dillon - USMC Sue Ellen Koop � USAF Air Force National Guard Ronald J.Heindl - USAR 1965-1994 |
| * Before name means that the person is still in the Military. |
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| Burn a candle brightly for all of our Veterans. |
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| Thank you Mags for this lovely memorial.. |
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