Gracias, merci and thx for your service
These are the enemies of all peoples. They can be coupled with communism, socialism and capitalism. Or with religions, including Christianity. Economic systems and religions are not inherently totalitarian or fascist but when coupled for propaganda or profit reasons, totalitarianism and fascism are worse.
Hate groups have grown from such roots into major political forces. The KKK claimed to have a Christian foundation. They hated Black people worst but they also hated brown skinned people, Catholics and Jews.
Today we honor those who have fought for their freedom and ours. Typically this means those who’ve served in the US military but that’s really not quite enough.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first Armistice Day with these words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
It was a day for parades and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.
Congress officially recognized the end of WWI with a resolution 7 years later on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
Fifteen years later, those friendly relations ended with the attack on Pearl Harbor. WWII required our military to fight for nearly 4 years. Within 5 years after that ended, our military was called upon to fight another 3 years in Korea. A decade after that our troops were actively engaged in combat in Vietnam and remained so for nearly 9 years. A decade later, it was the brief fight in Grenada. Six years later, US troops invaded Panama, immediately followed by the first War on Iraq in 1990.
The war in Afghanistan, our longest war (20 years), began in 2001 after the 9-11 attacks and continued till last year. The second War on Iraq lasted 9 years. From the time Congress passed its resolution in 1926 till today, US troops have also occupied, intervened in, provided air support for or participated in UN peacekeeping missions. In Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Korea (again), Dominican Republic, Laos, Cambodia, Lebanon, Libya, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haiti, Kosovo, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia (again), Libya (again), Uganda, Syria, Libya (again) and more.
The part in the 1926 Congressional resolution that “it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations” has fallen short repeatedly.
But our veterans rarely have. They’ve defended our country, defended economic interests, defended other countries, at times following poor strategic decisions by US leaders. Our media brings us visions of troops engaged in heroic combat but supply chains, support staff, medical staff and more are key parts to the whole as well. As are those who served in rare years of peacetime.
Vietnam vets were dosed with amphetamines which multiplied PTSD problems and also were subjected to massive amounts of dioxin (Agent Orange). A few in the 1960s were dosed with LSD without their knowledge. Some Iraqi veterans were exposed to toxic burn pits. Some got rewarded with GI Bill benefits later but for many years, Black soldiers - like the Harlem Hellfighters - were denied this. Many were treated like shit when they returned home.
“The history of the regiment is well researched and documented, including its ill treatment and under-utilization by American forces in France,” Burger wrote. “At the time, many Americans, including military leaders, believed African Americans lacked the intelligence and courage to fight.”
“The 369th proved the skeptics wrong and went on to achieve a remarkable combat record,” she wrote. It served “more time in continuous combat than any other American unit (and) … fought for 191 days on the front, the longest of any unit.”
The French government awarded the regiment the Croix de Guerre, and bestowed 171 individual medals for valor, Burger wrote.
The outfit’s ranks included musicians, future public figures, an eventual recipient of the Medal of Honor — Pvt. Henry Johnson’s was bestowed in 2015 — and the artist Horace Pippin, who chronicled parts of the 1914-1918 war in art and words.
So yeah, the vast majority of our veterans deserve this day of honor and far more.
(Both photos via the Washington Post two years ago)
My grandfather served in WWI. Several uncles served in WWII including one who was literally blown out of his tank by an artillery shell and required facial reconstruction surgery. My Dad served 28 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant. He was involved in the Berlin Airlift and spent a year flying recon missions over Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail over SE Asia countries secretly. I’ll always be an advocate for veterans, especially those who served where combat occurred.
Their lineages trace back to Ireland, Holland, England, Germany and one to an Austrian Jew. Protestants and Catholics mostly. Some came from Europe in the 1650s and some as late as the 1840s. They came for freedom and opportunity and some were escaping repression. Just like most immigrants today do.
I’m an advocate for peace. I supported one war, the invasion of Afghanistan after the 9-11 attacks. I definitely don’t support the presidential decisions to launch other wars, but I can’t fault veterans for that. As a military brat, sure, I know there’s some assholes who served. We saw some taking part in the January 6, 2021 insurrection and others who’ve joined bigoted and anti-government hate groups and militias.
But those are the few. Today let us honor the many. Like my niece’s husband, currently a lifer in the Army who plays in its band.
Anti-fascists, anti-totalitarians they are. Most important, they love what America is at its best.
One friend, who served in the 1980s, is opposed to the US government that we recently experienced from 2017-2020, which is best defined as a kakistocracy. He wrote this last night.
With his permission, here it is in its entirety:
About a year back I got a USS Cleveland ball cap. I thought it was cool, it was a reproduction of the hats we wore on the ship back in the day.
But whenever I went out with it on, I got a lot of "Oh, you served!", and "thank you for your service." I have to say, it put me off the cap. I don't feel comfortable wearing a hat that says "Hey, I served, thank me."
I appreciate the sentiment, and of course I'm not above getting that free Grand Slam at Denny's tomorrow, the one they give to veterans. But most of the time I don't feel like I did anything special.
But I did. I mean, I was no hero, I was never in danger. But I was there, willing to do my bit should it come to that. Thankfully, it never did.
But for so many, that moment did come. Relationships strained to breaking. Emotional difficulties. Post traumatic stress disorder. Injuries. And even death.
And for what?
These past 20 years I have often despaired of my country. We're not just the 'land of the free and the home of the brave.' We're supposed to be the good guys. The generous ones. The people who help each other, help others, help strangers, just because it's the right thing to do. But for far too many so-called Americans, those values have fallen by the wayside. Refugees come to our shores, seeking asylum and we brand them "Illegal immigrants," and we separate them from their children and confine them. Political disagreements turn into threats of violence, or worse, a cackling glee when political violence actually happens. Politicians lie, and cheat with increasing frequency, and an indifferent public becomes inured and turns a blind eye. Racism's ugly head reappears, never having fully gone away. And lately, an embrace of fascist thoughts and actions.
When we signed up, it was more than just a job. It was for a higher purpose than just ourselves. And that was impressed upon us from day one, in no uncertain terms. Not just a job, much more than an adventure, it was in service to our nation and the best and highest ideals we profess. It was for something bigger than ourselves, something better than anything, it was in support of a set of ideals that should last forever. Liberty. Justice for ALL. The rule of law. Respect for each other, for our nation, and for our democratic traditions.
And there are thousands upon thousands who sacrificed for that America. Some inconvenienced, some wounded, some maimed, and some lost forever.
So the best way you can thank a veteran for their service this Veteran's Day is just to be a GOOD AMERICAN CITIZEN. Think of everyone in country as your extended family. Give them the same courtesy, consideration and even affection that your give own family. Help them when they're down. Feed, clothe, house and heal them where you can, or at least support public and private efforts to do so. Strive towards the truth in all things, and admit it when you get it wrong. Work hard to support and protect the honest and honorable democracy that has been built for us all these past 246 years, the law-based system that so many have striven for for so long, the system that has made us the envy of the world for all who long for just government.
And when someone comes to your door - to the nation's door - seeking asylum, welcome them. When someone crosses your path who is different than you, with a different skin color, a different language, a different culture, a different gender, a different ANYTHING, set aside any thoughts of fearing the other, the different, and give them a chance to show that they can be the same kind of good person you imagine yourself to be. We're Americans. We're big enough that we can do that. We're big enough to do ANYTHING.
Aim high. Stand up for freedom and show ‘em the equality, justice and kindness that represents the best that an American can be. Barry is right. It’s the only real way to honor and thank our veterans.