Armistice Day / Veterans Day (USA)

[uncc]

On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month, the guns of World War I fell silent...


To all veterans, a great big Thank You!!!

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

[Joshuatree]

We do owe them that's for sure, so many very young ones sacrificed their lives.
How many of them are still alive? Can't be more than a handfull.

[martok]

I propose a moment of silence to all those who lost their lives in this great and terrible conflict....


Cheers guys.

ORIGINAL: Joshuatree

How many of them are still alive? Can't be more than a handfull.

Yeah, they're almost all gone. Britain only has maybe a couple left, France's last WW1 survivor died -- what, a couple months ago? -- and even the U.S. has only around a dozen or two survivors still kicking around (I think?).

We must never forget what that generation has done for us, and the sacrifices they made.

[noxious]

Britain has zero, the last one died a couple months ago. Not sure about France, but think there are none left there either.

Canada has one left, not sure if he was able to attend the ceremonies this morning in Ottawa (Might have been, there were a few very old men using the British salute, while Prince Charles was in a Canadian uniform and saluting Canuck style)

And Remembrance Day is about remembering ALL the fallen, past, present and future, not just WW1. The nuance is crucial.
Celebration of the armistice comes second to remembering the ultimate sacrifice, whatever the conflict.

It's also a reminder to keep the lads and ladies doing hard jobs overseas in your thoughts (or prayers), whatever you might think of the current deployments.

Never forget,
Cheers !