Interesting that this one lost its Monday Holiday status…I should Go Look, was that mostly the case for Vets Day in the ’70s and perhaps the ’80s? But falling as it does so soon after Hallowe’en and so briefly before T-day…
Todd, Jim Cramer on CNBC this morning said that when he started to work on Wall Street, the Stock Market was closed for Veterans’ Day. No more. Cramer added, “We used to respect our veterans on this day and now we just want to make more money.”
Yet “our respect” for veterans has Never extended to sufficient service to help them adjust to civilian life. My father was never quite in a war theater (though he and his fellow USAF GIs were sent to the Hungarian border in 1956, in case Ike decided to invade on behalf of the breakaway), but the trauma of seeing some fellow airmen being killed a few feet away from him, in Hawaii due to the insufficiency of some bomber retrofitting hardware, was never quite resolved
Todd, before PTSD was accepted as a condition many veterans suffer from, our service members tended to avoid talking about their military service, perhaps fearing reminiscences would trigger panic attacks and depression.
Jeff Meyerson
I hope you’ve been watching AMERICAN VETERAN on PBS. Very well done show. Everyone involved, including the narrators – so faar Drew Carey, Tammy Duckworth, and Wes Studi – is a veteran. The first show was The Crossing, about recruitment and basic training. The second was The Mission. The third, this week, was The Return. There is one more to go next Tuesday. If you’ve missed it, you can get them on the PBS website and probably On Demand. There are veterans from every war since World War II (96 year old Frank DeVita and the late Tuskegee Airman Harold Brown) through Korea (actor James McEachin) and Vietnam (Studi and others) up to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jeff, great minds think alike. I’m very moved by AMERICAN VETERAN on PBS. It was a very different time when military service and the Draft resulted in more participation and, in my opinion, more true patriotism. Today, less than 1% of the population serves in military service.
“The Uniform Holiday Act of 1968 moved the holiday from Nov. 11 to the “fourth Monday in October” to move ensure a long weekend for workers. But in 1975 President Gerald Ford returned the holiday to its original November date, due to the significance in marking the the end of the war.”
hanks for confirming that. Jackie was jsut asking, “Didn’t Veterrans Day used to be celebrated on Monday?” But that was a lot longer ago than I’d thought.
Deb, I find it curious that after decades of “off-limits” policies since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Solder is now open for public viewing. As I’ve mentioned in the past, my father served aboard a US NAVY destroyer in the Pacific and was injured when a Japanese kamikaze plane crashed into his ship. My father was awarded a Purple Heart.
So scary. My father enlisted after Pearl Harbor. He needed his mother’s permission as he was only 17. He spent most of the next four years in Britain keeping planes in the air. Of course, we do have a great photo of him on leave, in Edinburgh in full Highland regalia, presumably after several drinks.
Jeff, at the end of World War II my father turned down an offer to reenlist and used the G.I. Bill to get a college degree in Education. He met my mother at Niagara University–she worked as a clerk in the Bursar’s Office–and asked her out. When the woman who would become my mother asked the guy who would become my father why he didn’t reenlist, he answered, “I never want to be on a ship again.” A near-death experience with a Kamikaze plane crash will do that to you.
Happy Armistice Day. to all! I thank all who served, including our own Cap’n Bob, and all the others. I even managed to suit up and drive tanks around for a few years. I wish we could get an armistice between the political parties in Congress, but that might be too much to ask for.
Cool and rainy here, the small local parade will be damp, but the Naval Air Reserve will do flyovers, which is loud and fun.
Rick, the weather in Western NY is sunny and warm–10 degrees above Normal. Rain and snow is in the forecast for the weekend. Thank you for your service. I always wanted to drive around in a tank!
Bob, I was at an AMVETS store today and when I checked out, the cashier asked me if I would round up my bill to help the vets. I answered, “Of course!” You’re right about Nam vets dying off. Our Obituary pages always include several Vietnam War vets on a regular basis.
You all made me thinking of those horrible wars we had in Europe – at least one in every generation. I still remember reading in history lessons – over the Centuries there were wars of the French against the English, Russians against the Polish, Italians against the Austrians and Germans against almost everybody …
And now, thanks to the EU, we’ve had many years of peace though of course still many wars all over the world.
My father also was a veteran, almost didn’t make it after a Russian shot to his head – but at least he came back from WW2.
I probably have told already some of the stories …
The best news I found some day was the paper from the French authorities (grew up in the French Occupied Zone) that he wasn’t a party member, just an ordinary soldier – an “also ran”.
Thanks to everyone for their service, and to those whose parents and other relatives served.
I’m not sure a draft or mandatory service makes for More Patriotism, but it is the case that a number of folks in our volunteer services are among the most public-spirited citizens we have. Not the only ones, but not inconsiderable, either.
Interesting that this one lost its Monday Holiday status…I should Go Look, was that mostly the case for Vets Day in the ’70s and perhaps the ’80s? But falling as it does so soon after Hallowe’en and so briefly before T-day…
Todd, Jim Cramer on CNBC this morning said that when he started to work on Wall Street, the Stock Market was closed for Veterans’ Day. No more. Cramer added, “We used to respect our veterans on this day and now we just want to make more money.”
Yet “our respect” for veterans has Never extended to sufficient service to help them adjust to civilian life. My father was never quite in a war theater (though he and his fellow USAF GIs were sent to the Hungarian border in 1956, in case Ike decided to invade on behalf of the breakaway), but the trauma of seeing some fellow airmen being killed a few feet away from him, in Hawaii due to the insufficiency of some bomber retrofitting hardware, was never quite resolved
Todd, before PTSD was accepted as a condition many veterans suffer from, our service members tended to avoid talking about their military service, perhaps fearing reminiscences would trigger panic attacks and depression.
I hope you’ve been watching AMERICAN VETERAN on PBS. Very well done show. Everyone involved, including the narrators – so faar Drew Carey, Tammy Duckworth, and Wes Studi – is a veteran. The first show was The Crossing, about recruitment and basic training. The second was The Mission. The third, this week, was The Return. There is one more to go next Tuesday. If you’ve missed it, you can get them on the PBS website and probably On Demand. There are veterans from every war since World War II (96 year old Frank DeVita and the late Tuskegee Airman Harold Brown) through Korea (actor James McEachin) and Vietnam (Studi and others) up to Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s an impressive series.
Jeff, great minds think alike. I’m very moved by AMERICAN VETERAN on PBS. It was a very different time when military service and the Draft resulted in more participation and, in my opinion, more true patriotism. Today, less than 1% of the population serves in military service.
“The Uniform Holiday Act of 1968 moved the holiday from Nov. 11 to the “fourth Monday in October” to move ensure a long weekend for workers. But in 1975 President Gerald Ford returned the holiday to its original November date, due to the significance in marking the the end of the war.”
hanks for confirming that. Jackie was jsut asking, “Didn’t Veterrans Day used to be celebrated on Monday?” But that was a lot longer ago than I’d thought.
And there was so much going on in ’75, even from the POV of a 10yo as I was, that I missed the actual return to the original Armistice Day.
Todd, the end of World War I occurred on the 11th month of the year and the 11th day. Symbolism is big in the minds of politicians.
At the expense of actual things, yes, too often.
Thank you to all who served. Special personal thanks to my sister, who served 25 years in the USAF and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant.
Deb, I find it curious that after decades of “off-limits” policies since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Solder is now open for public viewing. As I’ve mentioned in the past, my father served aboard a US NAVY destroyer in the Pacific and was injured when a Japanese kamikaze plane crashed into his ship. My father was awarded a Purple Heart.
So scary. My father enlisted after Pearl Harbor. He needed his mother’s permission as he was only 17. He spent most of the next four years in Britain keeping planes in the air. Of course, we do have a great photo of him on leave, in Edinburgh in full Highland regalia, presumably after several drinks.
Jeff, at the end of World War II my father turned down an offer to reenlist and used the G.I. Bill to get a college degree in Education. He met my mother at Niagara University–she worked as a clerk in the Bursar’s Office–and asked her out. When the woman who would become my mother asked the guy who would become my father why he didn’t reenlist, he answered, “I never want to be on a ship again.” A near-death experience with a Kamikaze plane crash will do that to you.
Happy Armistice Day. to all! I thank all who served, including our own Cap’n Bob, and all the others. I even managed to suit up and drive tanks around for a few years. I wish we could get an armistice between the political parties in Congress, but that might be too much to ask for.
Cool and rainy here, the small local parade will be damp, but the Naval Air Reserve will do flyovers, which is loud and fun.
Rick, the weather in Western NY is sunny and warm–10 degrees above Normal. Rain and snow is in the forecast for the weekend. Thank you for your service. I always wanted to drive around in a tank!
A lot if not all the stores around here won’t allow the selling of poppies to support the vets.
Thanks, Rick. A salute to you, too. It won’t be long before all the Nam vets have died off. Agent Orange is speeding up that process.
Bob, I was at an AMVETS store today and when I checked out, the cashier asked me if I would round up my bill to help the vets. I answered, “Of course!” You’re right about Nam vets dying off. Our Obituary pages always include several Vietnam War vets on a regular basis.
You all made me thinking of those horrible wars we had in Europe – at least one in every generation. I still remember reading in history lessons – over the Centuries there were wars of the French against the English, Russians against the Polish, Italians against the Austrians and Germans against almost everybody …
And now, thanks to the EU, we’ve had many years of peace though of course still many wars all over the world.
My father also was a veteran, almost didn’t make it after a Russian shot to his head – but at least he came back from WW2.
I probably have told already some of the stories …
The best news I found some day was the paper from the French authorities (grew up in the French Occupied Zone) that he wasn’t a party member, just an ordinary soldier – an “also ran”.
Wolf, as famous Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman said, “War is hell.”
Thanks to everyone for their service, and to those whose parents and other relatives served.
I’m not sure a draft or mandatory service makes for More Patriotism, but it is the case that a number of folks in our volunteer services are among the most public-spirited citizens we have. Not the only ones, but not inconsiderable, either.