General Rough Week For U.s. Vets

[Sweetpea76]

Between the election and Veterans Day this week has stressed my vet beyond out.

Is it over yet?

A shout out to other supporters dealing with the fall out.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I'm not a vet but whew, the election was/is rough and then add veterans day, I can understand the stress for sure!

Give him a support hug from me! :hug:

How are you doing, yourself, with it all?

 

[NaeNae75]

Things this week have been "heightened" around here too....I'm wiped out. I hope things are good on your end.

 

[Sweetpea76]

It's going... Veterans Day always sucks. We have a routine in place for it after more than 4 years together.

This election has taken it out of both of us, especially since I'm a bleeding heart liberal and he is more conservative. I'm dealing with my own trepidation. He is winging back and forth between being a dick and trying to be sympathetic because he knows my fears are not unfounded.

He's isolating somewhat today, and I am going to take it very easy this weekend. Get lots of rest and try and relax.

 

[Richie]

my class were asked if we wanted to honour the 2 minute silence this morning and most of them weren't really bothered. I am the only one wearing a poppy this week and i almost insisted that we honoured the silence. Our lecturer on Friday mornings is German and they don't recognise armistice day apparently. She said its a British thing and i said no, its a global thing!

 

[Mytime]

Sending hugs sweetpea:hug:

 

[Gs172003]

my class were asked if we wanted to honour the 2 minute silence this morning and most of them weren't re...

I didn't know it was over seas today. I know some of our holidays don't coordinate.

 

[Richie]

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is armistice day which originates from WW1. Sunday is remembrance day.
I personally do not need a special day to wear a poppy. I show my respect every day of the year with 4 wristbands plus I usually wear a poppy pin badge

 

[Gs172003]

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is armistice day which originates from WW1. Sunday is rememb...

I've heard of the poppy but didn't know why. Thanks

 

[Richie]

I have done some research and the poppy actually began in the US. The guns stopped firing at 11am on 11th November which is why we have a 2 minute silence.

the poppy was written about in a poem because it was the only flower that grew on the graves in Belgium and France. An American humanitarian worker spotted the poem and bought 25 poppies which she distributed to her peers. It was adopted and in 1921 it was brought to Britain and these days it is sold to 120 countries although we seem to be pretty much alone in having Armistice day and remembrance Sunday. Most countries focus solely on Armistice day (11/11/1918) but our Royal British Legion is trying to change its meaning to include all service personnel and Veterans

 

[Friday]

@Richie :) Yep! I've always kind of loved that flow. Written by a Canadian, Discovered by an American, Celebrated by the British.

In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1872 - 1918 (Canadian)

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.

Hearing that poem, especially read by a child, is one of the few things that just reaches though my gut and grabs me by the spine.

Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.

Sorrow. Rage. Regret. Remorse. Remembered.

@Zoogal
Here in the states we split our observations into 2 holidays; Veterans Day -on Armistice Day (11th Day of the 11th month)- honoring all veterans of all wars past and present; & Memorial Day, on the last Sunday in May, honoring the fallen, in all wars past & present.

 

[scout86]

When I was a kid, we had a substitute teacher who had fought in WWI. A lot of the kids didn't appreciate him, but I'll never forget him telling us about the very first Armistice Day.

And I love that poem, glad you posted it @Friday !