November 11 - Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

My favorite WWI poem is Sigfried Sasson's "Glory of Women". It's admittedly quite sexist, but when you think about the context, and the bitterness of a man in a foxhole, you can forgive it for its raw emotion.

Glory Of Women

You love us when we're heroes, home on leave,

Or wounded in a mentionable place.

You worship decorations; you believe

That chivalry redeems the war's disgrace.

You make us shells. You listen with delight,

By tales of dirt and danger fondly thrilled.

You crown our distant ardours while we fight,

And mourn our laurelled memories when we're killed.

You can't believe that British troops 'retire'

When hell's last horror breaks them, and they run,

Trampling the terrible corpses--blind with blood.

O German mother dreaming by the fire,

While you are knitting socks to send your son

His face is trodden deeper in the mud.

[JillA 2]

My son made me a poppy that I am wearing today. I thought it was adorable. He actually got his whole class involved and they made a mini project out of it, so every child made a poppy to bring home to their parents and his teacher attached a poem, not Flanders Fields, but another one.

It's surprising how many people here don't know about the poppy and it's significance. I mean there are many who do, but a lot who don't. I was talking to my co-worker and she said that they used to be really popular when she was younger and then it just kind of died out. Sad.

That's so cute!! Homeade poppy!! What a nice class project

[Lona.C. 16]

today is a sad day ,its to remember all the soldiers

we also remember tony's Mom who has her b day today but sadly past just before christmas last year

Edited November 11, 2009 by Lona.C.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

My son made me a poppy that I am wearing today. I thought it was adorable. He actually got his whole class involved and they made a mini project out of it, so every child made a poppy to bring home to their parents and his teacher attached a poem, not Flanders Fields, but another one.

It's surprising how many people here don't know about the poppy and it's significance. I mean there are many who do, but a lot who don't. I was talking to my co-worker and she said that they used to be really popular when she was younger and then it just kind of died out. Sad.

How sweet and good for him!

Joe (who is an army vet) said they used to have poppies when he was younger as well but that they haven't been around for a while. It may have been a cost issue, I don't know. My first year here I was astonished to find out that there were no poppies - so handmade one for Joe to wear to work. I asked a friend back in Canada to pick up several poppies and mail them down to us. We have been using them every November ever since. Yes, it is surprising - and sad - how many Americans have no idea of their significance, especially considering the number of US Veterans there are.

[thetreble 19]

Now I may open myself up for critcism here but whatever.

You know, one thing I noticed from living here for 3 years now is that on 11/11 here, a lot of what I hear is about money and funds for veterans. I was listening to a radio program on my way home from work last night to "honor" veterans by telling stories about them. But, a lot of people who called up, were merely concerned with arguing that there is not enough money for Veterans. The department of Veterans affairs is one of the most exploited and poorly controlled departments in both the US and Canada. However, on 11/11, I don't want to hear about $$.

This one guy who called up about his friend "butch" who was never in combat but had hurt himself on a ship off the coast of Cuba or something like that...FORTY years ago...and complained that his friend has not received enough monetary compensation. The guy has been on disability for forty years...I mean I feel bad for him but...what are you expecting?

[JillA 2]

Some people here are SO ignorant This lady at work was talking about Veterans' Day, and yesterdays memorials, etc. Then she turned to me and said "I guess you had no idea what that was all about yesterday, since you're not American and all" And she said the word American like so snide and snotty.... God do people here think THIS country is the only one that recognizes our vets!? Hmmm maybe this should be in the vent thread You should have seen her look of surprise when I educated her about Canada and our pride and support of vets.... BEEOTCH!!

[Emancipation 2]

Hubby said last night as he was retiring for the evening (he's a vet).. I'm really glad that postal workers took a day off in my honor today..

He didn't get the day off yesterday.. sour grapes I say

[Flames9_RN 358]

I admit I'm not that great with past history, but there is one radio show I enjoy listening to on the radio here in the DC area and at times I'm rdy to strangle the DJ's! Every now and then they go on about the great WW on how great the USA military was, saving the world, and yes they helped a great deal, BUT many countries were long involved before the USA was!!

On the bright side, I looked after a WWII vet last week at the hospital and want an honor it was!

[thetreble 19]

That's great, Flames. I bet that was very fulfilling.

The most disappointing thing? I work at a university and we didn't even hold 2 minutes of silence. It really hurt me. I always enjoyed going to my remembrance day event in Ottawa every November. Now I'm here and they don't even hold the silence?

Some times I think..you can talk about how great of a military you have...you can talk as though you are the only military to ever exist on the earth that has "saved" the world from all it's troubles. (although we all know that's not true of the US military) But, if you don't do the little things like observe two minutes or even a minute of silence....what's the point?

I heard years ago that a US Company complained about the two minutes of silence because during that two minutes they lost x% of productivity and that wasn't acceptable. Just kind of like..what?

[DeadPoolX 9]

That's great, Flames. I bet that was very fulfilling.

The most disappointing thing? I work at a university and we didn't even hold 2 minutes of silence. It really hurt me. I always enjoyed going to my remembrance day event in Ottawa every November. Now I'm here and they don't even hold the silence?

Some times I think..you can talk about how great of a military you have...you can talk as though you are the only military to ever exist on the earth that has "saved" the world from all it's troubles. (although we all know that's not true of the US military) But, if you don't do the little things like observe two minutes or even a minute of silence....what's the point?

I heard years ago that a US Company complained about the two minutes of silence because during that two minutes they lost x% of productivity and that wasn't acceptable. Just kind of like..what?

I think a lot of it is due to a perverted sense of time and self-worth, plus a lack of education.

Think about it: there are messages everyday that say "you're more important than anyone else." Maybe not in those exact terms, but that's still the message and people eat it up (even if they aren't aware of it). Since people feel they're the "center of the universe," so a day to remember other individuals (none of whom they have any real contact with or from years ago) seems like nonsense to them.

I've heard some amazingly stupid comments before. Way back in high school, many students had no idea when WWI took place -- most confused it with WWII and some even placed the time period around the Civil War. Add to the fact that for a lot of people "ancient history" means what occurred five years ago (if even that far back) and you have a society that only cares about present, without thinking ahead or any regard for history.

Part of the problem regarding war is that history glosses over it. From junior high to even most college-level courses, the wars are considered minor events. I remember one history book giving WWI only one small paragraph; WWII received almost a full page.

Events that did get a lot of coverage consisted of social situations. In other words, Womens Suffrage got about 10 pages and the Civil Rights Movement had even more. I'm not suggesting either of those were irrelevant or shouldn't be learned, but I also think equal coverage should be given to world-wide events that changed the course of history (i.e. the two world wars).

[Malrothien 6]

That's great, Flames. I bet that was very fulfilling.

The most disappointing thing? I work at a university and we didn't even hold 2 minutes of silence. It really hurt me. I always enjoyed going to my remembrance day event in Ottawa every November. Now I'm here and they don't even hold the silence?

Some times I think..you can talk about how great of a military you have...you can talk as though you are the only military to ever exist on the earth that has "saved" the world from all it's troubles. (although we all know that's not true of the US military) But, if you don't do the little things like observe two minutes or even a minute of silence....what's the point?

I heard years ago that a US Company complained about the two minutes of silence because during that two minutes they lost x% of productivity and that wasn't acceptable. Just kind of like..what?

I think a lot of it is due to a perverted sense of time and self-worth, plus a lack of education.

Think about it: there are messages everyday that say "you're more important than anyone else." Maybe not in those exact terms, but that's still the message and people eat it up (even if they aren't aware of it). Since people feel they're the "center of the universe," so a day to remember other individuals (none of whom they have any real contact with or from years ago) seems like nonsense to them.

I've heard some amazingly stupid comments before. Way back in high school, many students had no idea when WWI took place -- most confused it with WWII and some even placed the time period around the Civil War. Add to the fact that for a lot of people "ancient history" means what occurred five years ago (if even that far back) and you have a society that only cares about present, without thinking ahead or any regard for history.

Part of the problem regarding war is that history glosses over it. From junior high to even most college-level courses, the wars are considered minor events. I remember one history book giving WWI only one small paragraph; WWII received almost a full page.

Events that did get a lot of coverage consisted of social situations. In other words, Womens Suffrage got about 10 pages and the Civil Rights Movement had even more. I'm not suggesting either of those were irrelevant or shouldn't be learned, but I also think equal coverage should be given to world-wide events that changed the course of history (i.e. the two world wars).

Interesting - we spent weeks on WWI and WWII in my high school.

[thetreble 19]

In highschool, I had entire year class in grade 10 on the first two world wars.

I then took a class in grade 11 dedicated to global history and we covered a lot, especially ones we weren't even involved in.

Believe me, I'm certainly not an expert in American history. I have a degree from university in it (I double majored in English and history) and I took a full year American history course at university as well..but I'm certainly still not anywhere where I'd like to be. But like you say, Deadpool, I guess history and wars have become more of a social relevance than anything. I just think a lot of places have sort of lost the meaning of it all. Remembrance Day is always sorrowful and many people carry a heavy heart on that day. But it was just sort of a normal day here. No one even mentioned it at work. I had to explain my poppy like 1 billion times and I work with a lot of educated people. It was just a very odd feeling.

[Malrothien 6]

Memorial Day is a much bigger day for us than Veteran's Day.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'm jealous that you two actually got taught about the world wars in school. The only class I ever had that taught that subject was a specific university course entitled "Military and War in America." This went beyond the U.S., of course, but the idea was to teach military history that involved the U.S. somehow.

Seriously, if I wasn't such a history buff (specifically military) I wouldn't know a damn thing about the two world wars, much less any other conflict. I'm surprised at how little people really know. Very few I've met actually know the details of any war beyond whatever they've seen in movies.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I'm jealous that you two actually got taught about the world wars in school. The only class I ever had that taught that subject was a specific university course entitled "Military and War in America." This went beyond the U.S., of course, but the idea was to teach military history that involved the U.S. somehow.

Seriously, if I wasn't such a history buff (specifically military) I wouldn't know a damn thing about the two world wars, much less any other conflict. I'm surprised at how little people really know. Very few I've met actually know the details of any war beyond whatever they've seen in movies.

agreed. however, that's a failing also on the individual as they can always pick up a book and read about what easily could be termed the greatest war ever fought in human existence.