Nearly 85 years ago, at the end of WW I (the war to end all wars) Congress declared that November 11th should thereafter be known as ‘Armistice Day’
WHEREAS the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
WHEREAS the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
The dream, summed up so eloquently in Congressional rhetoric, is that peace should be a national priority. Furthermore, that the nation should pause to remember that war is horrific…and should only occur as a move of last resort. That sentiment is still relevant today.
This nation, which has the mightiest military in all of global history, has a dreadful record when it comes to remembering not only the price of military conflict but the participants as well. It takes more than the laying of a wreath to adequately memorialize the efforts of past and present wars. It takes more than a resolution send billions of dollars overseas the support and protect American troop. We must, as a people, learn the true cost of war…not in dollars, but in lives.
So, after you call or visit relatives that are veterans (even the peacetime veterans) call or write a member of your Congressional delegation and let them know you expect them to support our troops. Ask them what they are doing about the following problems:
·It has been over a decade since Gulf War I and thousands of vets still suffer from illness and ailments (Gulf War Syndrome). Why are they struggling to get medical assistance and benefits from exposure to Iraqi toxins and American depleted uranium?
·It has been 25 years since the Vietnam War and thousands of those veterans still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Thousands more are homeless…nearly 30% of all homeless are veterans. Why is homelessness not a national priority?
·Nearly 60 years have passed since WWII and thousands of those veterans still struggle to obtain benefits, pensions, and healthcare.
It is the responsibility of those who benefit from sacrifice, to ensure that those who were put in harms way by their country are not forgotten, not only the dead, but the maimed as well. And finally, to ensure that the next generation of veterans are not treated as shamefully as those who came before them.
And to all those veterans out there past, present and future....Thanks!
Peace,
Damon
I
WHEREAS the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
WHEREAS the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
The dream, summed up so eloquently in Congressional rhetoric, is that peace should be a national priority. Furthermore, that the nation should pause to remember that war is horrific…and should only occur as a move of last resort. That sentiment is still relevant today.
This nation, which has the mightiest military in all of global history, has a dreadful record when it comes to remembering not only the price of military conflict but the participants as well. It takes more than the laying of a wreath to adequately memorialize the efforts of past and present wars. It takes more than a resolution send billions of dollars overseas the support and protect American troop. We must, as a people, learn the true cost of war…not in dollars, but in lives.
So, after you call or visit relatives that are veterans (even the peacetime veterans) call or write a member of your Congressional delegation and let them know you expect them to support our troops. Ask them what they are doing about the following problems:
·It has been over a decade since Gulf War I and thousands of vets still suffer from illness and ailments (Gulf War Syndrome). Why are they struggling to get medical assistance and benefits from exposure to Iraqi toxins and American depleted uranium?
·It has been 25 years since the Vietnam War and thousands of those veterans still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Thousands more are homeless…nearly 30% of all homeless are veterans. Why is homelessness not a national priority?
·Nearly 60 years have passed since WWII and thousands of those veterans still struggle to obtain benefits, pensions, and healthcare.
It is the responsibility of those who benefit from sacrifice, to ensure that those who were put in harms way by their country are not forgotten, not only the dead, but the maimed as well. And finally, to ensure that the next generation of veterans are not treated as shamefully as those who came before them.
And to all those veterans out there past, present and future....Thanks!
Peace,
Damon
I