Our Personal Meaning of Veterans Day - November 11th

[GVan]

Yesterday marked the 104th anniversary of the end of World War 1, which became known as "Armistice Day" in the US and Europe in 1926.  12 years later this day became a US National Holiday.  In 1954, the US Congress passed a bill that proclaimed November 11th as "Veterans Day" celebrating all of those that have served in our armed forces.  In Canada, "Remembrance Day" is celebrated on November 11th with a moment of silence to honor and remember the men and women who have and continue to serve.  For any Veteran of the free-world that has served their country, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your service.  

I am not military but, in our family we do have and honor Veterans.  Below is my father-in-law, and his mates at the assisted living home, all veterans, all heroes in their own way.  Yesterday a retired Marine came by to honor them with commemorative Veterans Day pins.  My wife and I searched all over and found a new US Army ball cap for him because he had lost his in the move.  My father-in-law, who was a medic of the First Battalion, Forty-First Field Artillery, Fifty-Sixth Field Artillery Brigade stationed at the US base in Stuttgart, Germany, when presented with his pin - got choked-up and then told this story.  

"I was headed to Korea after the Korean War ended as a medic when a general that I often joked with took a liking to me and changed my orders to instead be his units medic in Germany.  Due to this deployment, I was able to take my wife with me to Schwabisch Gmund, Germany (pictured below); where my oldest daughter, who is with me today, was born".  Each of the veterans told a short story of where they served and what it meant to them as they received their pin and a certificate.

All the veterans then posed for a picture and did their best Hoorah ...

[cgoodrich]

That was an awesome post @GVan. Thank your father-in-law and his mates for me as well.