On November 11th each year, we commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI in 1918. The significance of the number 11 stems from the coincidence that hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year with the stroke of a pen on that date.
The following year, President Woodrow Wilson started the tradition of celebrating the service of our armed forces with the annual Holiday. The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926.This year, we join together at City Hall and town halls across the country to acknowledge the lives lost and those still serving in several conflicts and here at home. The men and women of the Armed Forces deserve our gratitude and for those of us who havent had the honor of doing so, I offer my sincere thanks for the privileges that have been bestowed on the citizens of our country as a result.
Our ceremony was that much more important this year with the horrific event in Texas only days ago. We lost good people in what looks to have been a preventable act of terrorism on our own soil. With our new administration handed two wars and countless breakdowns across the world, we count on our military to be "on the ready" for when the unspeakable occurs. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims of this tragic act.Both of my Grandfathers served in WWII. The memorabilia of their time of service is still displayed and the pride of their service is still reflected upon. Although they are both no-longer with us, I am grateful to both of them for that service.
As Jim Noble mentioned at City Hall: From the Greatest Generation to the Current Generation, we owe our Armed Forces the deepest gratitude for the past and continued service they provide. Everyone in the assembly would surely agree and Jim's comments were well received.Be ready to support our service men & women when they come home from duty both financially and emotionally. These harsh economic times aren't going to make that very easy for any of them.
2 comments:
Preventable act of terrorism, yes. The airline had to have in place better security, and that would have been all it took, but they closed the barn door after the horse left.
Instead we sent men and women to die in Iraq and Afghanistan and spent a whole bunch and are still spending a whole bunch on that. Bin Laden and gang still at large. So is George W. Bush, holed up somewhere in Dallas, where another President of yesteryear was shot to death, if anyone wants to recall history.
Young usually poor men and women go into the military and reap the ugliness of death and burial as a result of this nation's adventures, sent there usually by Presidents who don't know war's cost but surely know political image.
It never gets any better and never will.
Mike- what a great day and excellent tribute to our men and women in uniform. It is sad that 3:15 ends with a real downbeat thought. Preventable terrorism, I seriosuly doubt it. Reduction in deaths of this type a possibility, but at what cost of freedom.
The 11/11/09 ceremony was brief and directly to the point. Retired Sgt Forte and Chief Keller were dynamic with their thoughts as was Alderman at Large Jim Noble. The audience continued the program outside as the members of the military and spectators stood at attention as the former servicemen fired a 21 gun salute followed by retired Sgt Bill Forte's saddening tones of Taps. Forte is one of many VUMS- Voluntary Underage Veterans. Grandson Sgt Forte has returned from several tours of duty in Iraq and is now in Washington, where he continues to serve our great nation.
Yes 3:15, it is easy to caste aside those areas of security that could have saved this nation from the 9/11 treachery along with the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. I guess the words "only if" are wise in retropsect, but again at what cost of freedom. We all know that "freedom is not free", but we can hope and pray that our "fighting men and women" return to our shores as soon as possible. Sadly, we don't learn from history, and it continues to repeat itself each generation.
Maybe one day, we and other members of the world will moove forward and establish a lasting peace-
again, just my three pesos,
Shelly Z
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