Veteran's Day, 2014

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On the evening of November 10^th, 1918, General John J. Pershing – overall commander of the American Expeditionary Force in France – issued out his orders for the next day. They were for continued and unrelenting attack throughout the American sector of the line. Though the announcement had already been made to all units that a Cease Fire was to take effect at 11:00 am that following day, few had faith in its realities; General Pershing included. History tells us, however, that on that momentous day – at the 11^th hour, of the 11^th day, of the 11^th month – the guns did indeed fall silent for the first time in four years and four months. With that general armistice of hostilities, the First World War effectively drew to a conclusion. It had cost some 13 million lives, the greatest tragedy the world had yet seen, and it made a permanent mark on the generation that had experienced it.

In 1938, Armistice Day, as it was then called, became an official U.S. National holiday. However, the 11^th of November had been traditionally honored the world over ever since the first anniversary of peace following the war in 1919, and recognized by our Federal Government as early as 1925. It was the fashion in those days that at 11:00 am, no matter where you were, everything would cease at that hour for one fill minute of silence, when everyone’s thoughts would turn to the sacrifices made by our men overseas during the ‘Great War’. All traffic lights in cities would go red; telephones would stop ringing; radio stations would fall silent. For that minute at least, once a year we all came together as a nation to remember.

(Credit: http://humanevents.com/2012/11/10/the-11th-hour-of-the-11th-day-of-the-11th-month/ Emphasis added)

To all that have served and are serving, thank you.

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To all the veterans out there,

THANK YOU for having the courage, fortitude and dedication to put on the uniform of our military and protect all Americans

THANK YOU for your service in times of war and times of peace

THANK YOU for making the world a better and safer place through your service

THANK YOU for the freedoms I and my family enjoy today because of YOU!!



God Bless America, Land of the free...because of the brave who have, do and will serve her

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Lest we Forget - We remember

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Thank you to everyone who has worn our Nation's uniform. And for those still downrange, stay safe!