My traditional Lounge flame war over Armistice Day vs

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

Veteran's Day and the intent of this poem... here goes again.

F L A M E O N !!

[burrowowl]

1. It is Armistice Day

how did it become Veterans Day in the US? And big spend your money sales day?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. Well, there are about 3 WWI vets left. This summer the VA

said there were 8 and 5 died in June, and I have not heard about the others as yet.

They just lost the power they had as vets of the "war to end all wars" as wars kept crashing over the planet and still do. It was a nice thought, and maybe even possible if the right people had been in charge, alas, SOME people had other agendas, thus we have the second part of your question.... CONSUME!

[Maddy McCall]

6. One was in Biloxi, Mississippi at the naval home.

don't know if he's passed away since I interviewed him three years ago, but he as 103 then.

[burrowowl]

15. When I lived in France

in Levallois, they had the WWI vets ride in a special bus. I guess they are all gone now.
The history of 11/11/18 at 11 o'clock being a holiday has been batted about in the U$, just like Labor Day based on a U$ event was changed from May 1 to that monday in September. Political reasons.
People in the U$ probably wonder when they contribute to VFW and receive a poppy. Your post should inform them.

[petronius]

3. Happy Veterans' Day!

(Although personally, I agree that Armistice Day sounds better.)

As for the poem, I've always read it to be an exhortation to fight - a pro-war, 'go in and win' sort of sentiment. It seems that the first stanza is supposed to be a tear-jerker, and the second is intended to turn that emotion on it's head, with the idea that the immense sacrifice that has already occured can't be allowed to go to waste. Of course, McCrae had a strong argument that that war was justified - still, my WWI poetry preferences run toward Sassoon and Owen...

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. well, I agree and this is where the flame war always starts

McCrae had a horrible war experience, one he did not escape, had he lived would we have ever heard of Flander's Fields?
Who knows. He may have burned it.
Yes, he wants the war carried on, he wants revenge for the untold thousands who died on his table, the piled up limbs behind him and the guts on the floor.

[blackcat77]

4. Sort of like "Memorial Day" and "Decoration Day."

Both Decoration Day and Armistice Day are terms which are, sadly, losing their meaning.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. At least Memorial Day and Decoration Day are honoring

the same thing.

[glarius]

7. It was changed to Veteran's Day in the USA because

the United States had to have it's own particular stamp on this day. They didn't want to just be a part of the commemorations of the rest of the world....It has to be a distinctive American day...Am I wrong?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. No, I think you are right, IIRC, it was some kind of postal

thing.

[qnr]

10. Actually, the vast majority have no idea what "Armistice" means

No sense of history, no sense of being a resident of the planet Earth rather than an American. Wave the flag, call it "Veteran's" Day -- works better in a sound bite.

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. you are wrong

it became Veterans Day in 1921 after the US, France, and Britain recognized the Unknown Soldier to include living veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.

[glarius]

18. Actually it was originally called Armistice Day in the U.S.A. but was

changed in 1954.....:)
Here's a link....http://www1.va.gov/vetsday/page.cfm?pg=3

[BigMcLargehuge]

19. DOH!!!

thanks for that :)

[eataTREE]

12. Remembrance Day, in Canada.

I always liked that, because it put the emphasis on remembering the dead and maimed, and the horrors of war, rather than guns-guts-n'-glory.

The eleventh minute of the eleventh hour has already passed on the east coast; did you observe a minute of silence?

[Tyler Durden]

13. I listened on CBC: I always do.

Grandpa was a "Princess Pat" RSM on Gold or Sword Beach I'm not sure which, and a lancer in WWI.

"Lest we Forget"

The sound of the bugler makes me cry like a baby.

The BGen Chaplin's text was "I shall lift up my eyes to the hills whence cometh my strength" and the homily was LEAD US AWAY FROM OUR DISOBEDIENCE TO YOUR MOST IMPORTANT COMMAND AND LEAD US TO PEACE.

[yvr girl]

14. Link to Remembrance Day thread in Canadian Forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=190&topic_id=2108

[burrowowl]

16. The best poem from WWI

is Dulce Decorum.

[HEyHEY]

17. It's Remembrance day