I have always preferred Remembrance Day as a better name for the Nov. 11 holiday than Veterans Day, as the former requires me to pause, think and reflect on those who served and still serve.
Still celebrated in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion, harking back to the end of World War I in 1918 - and it is the source of the tradition of observing a moment of silence on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, when the guns of that war fell silent.
I have observed my moment of silence, and now it's time to remember, starting with Frank Woodruff Buckles, who at the age of 108 is the oldest known living American veteran. Buckles, who lives in Gap View Farm, W.Va., enlisted in the Army at the age of 16 in 1917 and served in France as an ambulance driver.
After World War I, Buckles worked for civilian shipping companies, and when the Japanese invaded the Philippines, was captured and spent three years in a prison camp.
Today, Buckles serves as the honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, which honors the 5 million Americans who served during that war, including 116,516 who died in action.
While Washington is replete with war memorials, there is not one that commemorates World War I, except for the District of Columbia's memorial to its 499 World War I veterans, which now sits neglected and in disrepair, along the Lincoln Reflecting Pool between the World War II and Korean War Memorials.
I think it's way past time to spruce up this neglected memorial.
The Corpsmen
As a Marine who served in Vietnam, I have the deepest respect for the Navy corpsmen who served with us, and I had a chance to rekindle that appreciation earlier this month when I met two corpsmen who recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Both these corpsmen - Master Chief Rafael Felipe and Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Martinez - exemplify the skill and dedication to duty of those who wear the caduceus insignia.
Their careers and recent combat tours also show that corpsmen take on unique duties and missions. Felipe, a surgical technician born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, just finished a seven-month tour with a forward surgical team in Afghanistan, supporting among other outfits, a provincial reconstruction team working with the people of Afghanistan.
While Felipe dealt with physical battlefield casualties, Martinez, a psychology technician from Fairfax, Va., dealt with the invisible wounds of war during his recent six-month tour in Iraq. While Felipe said he dealt with physical head wounds in Afghanistan, Martinez said he helped treat invisible head wounds by teaching relaxation techniques.
Both are proud of their service, particularly in a specialty focused on helping people.
The Indians
This month the online Library of Congress Veterans History Project features stories from American Indians ranging from a World War II Navajo Code talker to Dakota Sioux Vietnam Veteran.
Worth checking out on how the first Americans serve America.
In Flanders Fields
Nothing will ever written will evoke remembrance of battle and the fallen as well as this poem, written by Canadian Army surgeon, Lt. Col. John McRae:
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.
COMMENTS
"They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them." (from L. Binyon's "For the Fallen")
Peter G. Tuttle, CPCM 11/16/09 01:09 pm ET
(Let me add one postscript)
> I think the DC Memorial should be rededicated as the National WWI Memorial, with the Kansas City National WWI Museum performing the same function as the National WWII Museum - previously the D-Day Museum - in N'Orleans (http://www.nationalww2museum.org/).
(Thanks)
Tim
Tim 11/16/09 12:28 pm ET
Bob - A couple of things:
> Growing up I remember hearing both terms - "Armistice Day" (since that's what went into effect in 1918) as well as "Veteran's Day." I remember being taught that we had three military-related holidays:
- Memorial Day (celebrated on the last Monday in May), to remember those who served that have died - not just in combat, but all who wore the uniform and have gone on ahead.
- Armed Forces day (celebrated on the 3rd Sat in May), which honors those who currently serve.
- Veterans Day (which became the official title in 1954).
(I remember some really good parades during the early-mid 60's in NYC.)
> As for a National WWI Memorial, the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, MO (http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/new/index_community.aspx) was designated by Congress in 2004 as the National WWI Museum, although I certainly support the idea of repairing and rededicating the DC WWI Memorial. (Their website is http://www.wwimemorial.org/.)
> Also, a belated Happy Birthday!
Semper Fi,
Tim
Manassas, VA
Tim 11/16/09 12:16 pm ET
My maternal grandfather was a veteran of the First World War. I rember haow he always referred to it as "Armistice Day" and never as Veteran's Day. He was an infantryman who was wounded in both legs during the Battle of the Argonne Forest. My earliest memories of my grandfather was that he walked with the assistance of two canes. Eventually the canes gave way to crutches and later a wheelchair. I echo Bob's voice, Where is the World War I Memorial? The lone DC Memorial is pathetic.
Dave Swafford 11/12/09 10:34 am ET
and ther were and still are the Missing, and the Civilians that served the Armed Forces, or the Natian Bilding/Humanitarian goals of our Nation at War. We should also include: but seem not to on Veteran's Day.
Richard A. Hale 11/12/09 08:33 am ET
Poignant selections as a first generation American of British heritage, Rememberance Day was the designation, as a Vietnam era Corpsman, the long tradition continues, as citizens we all enjoy the benefits of others sacrifices.
DrJack 11/12/09 06:00 am ET