World War I, known at the time as THE GREAT WAR officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. That is so even when fighting had ceased seven months earlier when an Armistice, a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied Nations and Germany went into effect on the:
ELEVENTH HOUR
OF THE ELEVENTH DAY
OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH
Therefore, November 11, 1918 was generally regarded as the end of:
THE WAR TO END ALL WARS
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of ARMISTICE DAY with the following 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.”
On June 4, 1926, the UNITED STATES CONGRESS declared that it would be “fitting” that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercise its design to perpetuate peace through goodwill and mutual understanding between nations.
The Congress then called upon the President to issue a proclamation calling for the display of the flag of the United States everywhere possible and requesting that we the people observe and commemorate the day (November 11) in schools, churches or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
Then, on May 13, 1938, our Congress made THE ELEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER a legal holiday, a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as:
ARMISTICE DAY
Then, on June 1, 1954, NOVEMBER 11th known as Armistice Day was changed to VETERAN’S DAY. Armistice Day had honored veterans from World War I. Veteran’s Day however would honor the veterans of all wars, including World War II, the Korean War, and in fact, any war before, then or to come.
The very first Veteran’s Day, after much confusion about the matter, was finally legally determined and celebrated November 11, 1978. That was the date agreed upon by the Congress and by each of the states of the union. Veteran’s Day continues to be observed on NOVEMBER 11 regardless of what day of the week it may occur. It should be a day set aside to celebrate and honor America’s veterans of all American wars for their patriotism, their love of country, heroism and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, for the good of:
WE THE PEOPLE
Military people are the salt of the earth. They are the best, heroes, cut from a different cloth. There is a sense of sacrifice and service deep within them not in all men and women. These men and women are ready to die, to do whatever is required to protect and defend. They train, and train again. They become marvelous physical specimens, disciplined, right-thinking, governed by a high morality conducting their affairs with the strongest sense of right and wrong. In that sense, they are the best of us.
Many die, killed in action. There is no American family anywhere which has not felt the pain of this ultimate sacrifice for America. Loved ones are buried everywhere in America and around the world. They become in their grave reminders to all mankind that there are men and women who will fight and die for freedom, for justice, for all things right for:
LIBERTY
No matter the cost. They are more than VETERANS. They are heroes, workers, often called SERVICE men and women for they are constantly in the service of their beloved country. We honor those who gave their lives.
Then there are those who were wounded, WOUNDED WARRIORS. They will carry with them physical infirmities for the rest of their lives. The pain of war is a constant companion. They live among us now, these wounded warriors, often ignored and often without honor. Many gave the better part of their lives for us and we should honor them, help them, visit with them, and let them know that we will never forget their sacrifice for us.
Then there are those who return from these awful wars without injury. But they carry with them the scars and memories of war for life. THEY NEVER FORGET. They remember the brutality and savagery of warfare. They recall killings of an enemy but also of innocent civilians. It is perhaps the memory of those most innocent who died in war which hurts the most. The body remains intact but the mind lives on wounded for life. We should honor them, salute them, thank them for all they did for us. There would be no LIBERTY in America today were it not for them. Armistice Day, now Veteran’s Day, honors these:
AMERICAN HEROES
WOUNDED WARRIORS
Now and forevermore. You should do that on November 11, Veteran’s Day honoring everyone who ever served. That day and in fact every day.
WE OWE THEM!
War is the ultimate brutality, the ultimate bestiality of man against man. Of all of the species, man has no compunction killing another of his kind. In war, the more killing the better. When one is defined as ENEMY, anything goes, any way to kill the enemy is appropriate. In former wars, that was often hand-to-hand combat. Then came World War II and warfare changed forever. There came atom bombs, and nuclear warfare began. The potentiality for nuclear war today is astonishing, appalling, warlike means for the end of the world. Thousands may have died at a time in previous wars. Future wars can bring the deaths of millions upon millions, and only with a single bomb. The world is a tinderbox, wars everywhere. The Middle East is a cauldron of hatred, savagery, brutality. Chemical warfare occurs. The innocent are slaughtered. Maverick butchers like ISIS rampage and destroy. Russia, on the sidelines for years, now shows the world this BIG BEAR is ready for action, for war. It supports Syria, attacks the Ukraine and now begins to show its support, its oneness with Iran. The world at large calls for an active American military, defending not only itself, but Democratic nations and freedom the world over. That call coming at a time when the American military is on the decline, when funding or military needs continues to decline and at an all-time low, presided over by a President, a Commander in Chief who has an obvious distaste, even a loathing for the military. Cut it back, the military, and cut the funding for American military, so goes the philosophy and political actions of Barack Hussein Obama. No matter that Iran is on the verge of nuclear capability, a nuclear bomb or bombs in the waiting for Israel and the world, Obama and his minion Secretary of State John Kerry negotiated with Iran perhaps the worst military treaty ever negotiated and sanctioned by a President and a Congress. This treaty, now official, virtually allows Iran to complete the building of its nuclear structure and consequently in a matter of years, or perhaps even months, produce nuclear weapons which will not only threaten the Middle East, but the world at large. That includes our very own America. There really are no checks and balances. There is simply no way to stop Iran under the terms and conditions of this treaty for it occurs from a President who has little grasp of real foreign policy, little understanding of the dynamics of war, and virtually none with respect to the Middle East and the threat of Iran. There is the usual political bluster from Obama and company but as in most cases with him, it is all talk. American military action or decision making seem always too little too late. Obama and Kerry seem to forget the words of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei who said:
“Kill all the Jews and annihilate Israel. Islamic government must take the helm! Death to Israel and:
DEATH TO AMERICA!”
Those words, those most sincere threats mean nothing to Obama.
He is concerned, we are told with legacy and what a legacy he will leave. Whether the destruction and disruption of an American economy or the creation of a rabid chaos and uncertainty the world over, many think Obama will go down in history as the worst President ever.
Israel is left essentially alone to defend itself. Obama claims that America has Israel’s back when in fact:
AMERICA (OBAMA) HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON ISRAEL!
Wars and the possibilities of wars have never been greater. It is, as one Jewish Rabbi said, a sad reality that Israel is left with its resolve to survive motivated by the Holocaust cry of:
NEVER AGAIN
NOT NOW, NOT EVER!
It now seems inevitable that the Middle East will explode in a cauldron of nuclear warfare and the killing of tens of millions of human beings, Jewish and Arab. So, get ready AMERICAN VETERANS. THE WAR OF ALL WARS is yet to come, and perhaps about to come. We will need you, veterans, like never before. No future war can ever occur without America being involved and America being ATTACKED. Intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear missiles can now reach America and you may be certain when war, real war, ARMAGEDDON WAR breaks out, those missiles will head to America with unbelievable destruction. Our very own country, predict many, will suffer hundreds of thousands, even millions of deaths of our beloved citizens when this WAR OF WARS breaks out. You may be certain that Iran will be in the forefront.
In spite of these times, when American military should be at its strongest, the war against the military, the radical change in the military, the Obama changes for the military have never been more aggressive. There is now at work, says Tony Perkins, a WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL ENGINEERING. The military is being remade and rebuilt with an aggressive attempt to change its social makeup on the one hand, political thinking on the other including an aggressive war on religious freedoms. The Pentagon recently conducted a six month study of the effects of open transgenderism in the military. Our military, says the Pentagon, should be sensitive to transgenderism among other social change as much so as military purposes. Governor Mike Huckabee angrily replies as follows:
“How about having the military focusing on hunting down and killing the bad guys instead of treating it (the military) as this crucible for social justice innovations. We have lost sight of what their job is and that’s what we need to get back to.”
End, Mr. President Barack Hussein Obama this radical military makeover. Standup, Mr. President for other men who standup, Sergeant Phillip Monk who nearly lost his job in the military for believing in and proclaiming the natural definition of marriage. Monk is like so many Christians who are being “drummed out” of the service for exercising the very same freedoms they have given their lives to defend.
No matter, says Obama and his ilk, on with the radical social makeover. Obama as President has appointed waiting for confirmation openly gay Eric Fanning as Army Secretary. Fanning has spent the last several years lobbying for open transgenderism in the ranks as Air Force under Secretary and his efforts paid off. Defense Secretary Ash Carter agreed with Monk telling WE THE PEOPLE that “times have changed.” Transgender rights have become as or more important than the military protection of our rights. It seems almost embarrassing to see Ash Carter wearing the American flag on his lapel. This man openly dishonors America and its traditional military.
Not only transgenderism but women in the military now get ready for combat duty, dangerous new positions once forbidden. Women will soon be eligible for frontline combat, the most dangerous military duties of which the vast majority of Americans disapprove. No matter to Ash Carter, Secretary of Defense for “times have changed.” Obama continues the radical makeover of the American military through men like Carter, Fanning and others. And more from Governor Huckabee who said:
“It’s clear President Obama is more interested in appeasing America’s homosexuals than honoring America’s heroes. Obama is so obsessed with pandering to liberal interest groups he has nominated an openly gay civilian to run the army. Homosexuality is not a job qualification.”
If Fanning is confirmed, we would have a civilian, not a military man, in charge of our UNITED STATES ARMY. Said yet another, “the United States military is designed to keep Americans safe and complete combat missions, not to conduct social experiments.” And the war goes on against Christians, chaplains, Bibles, the wearing of crosses, open prayer in the military and other expressions of faith, authored and authorized by our CHRISTIAN President Barack Hussein Obama. No Christian President has ever waged war on Christianity like President Obama. None ever!
Speaking of prayer, there is the wonderful story of former Marine Joe Kennedy. Kennedy is a veteran, a real hero, a wounded warrior in the service of his country. He is a true hero, a former combat veteran. Kennedy is a strong Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, a man of great faith who practices that faith.
Joe Kennedy is the Bremerton Washington High School Football Team Coach. For seven years, this Christian coach has established a tradition of thanking God at every game for spiritual blessings. After each game, Kennedy would go to midfield, take his stand by kneeling down and praying. It was beautiful tradition, his own, Kennedy never requiring any of his players to join him or even asking them to do so. No matter, many of his players would voluntarily join him at midfield and participate in the prayer. They did so out of respect for Kennedy and his faith, the practice thereof, and for most, an expression of their very own faith.
Radical secularists in the local Washington School District threatened Kennedy, told him to stop praying or start finding a new job. The former combat veteran refused. He asked for the legal help of the Liberty Institute, a great organization who issued the following statement:
“As long as the kids understand that he’s doing that in his individual and private capacity, which is what he is doing, it is perfectly Constitutional and not only that, it’s a violation of the Constitution to tell him he’s not allowed to pray.”
Thank you, Joe Kennedy, for standing up, for showing the very same courage for your faith as you did for your country as a Marine. Kennedy vows that he will continue to “thank the Lord for the young men that participated in blessing me with this group of players.” God bless this American veteran and hero.
And then there was the case of Sergeant 1st Class Charles Martland. A young Afghan boy had been repeatedly raped by an Afghan official, a local police commander. The child’s mother had pleaded for help and the American soldiers felt a moral obligation to intervene. Charles Martland acted to save the boy and in the process “roughed up” the child rapist. Sergeant Martland said the following:
“I chose the morally right decision because moral law transcends all boundaries.”
Amen, Sergeant, well said and well done. Martland was severely disciplined, expelled from the army. But that was only the beginning. Hundreds of thousands of citizens rose to his defense as did many politicians. Something is fundamentally wrong with the U.S. Army when it disciplines a Sergeant who stands up for a little child, repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by a vicious Afghan official and the Sergeant becomes the victim and the rapist walks away. We the people and our so-called representatives should send the army, this particular branch of the army, the strongest message that such army intolerance will never be tolerated. Sergeant Martland is a veteran, a hero not a criminal.
And more assault on our heroes, our veterans. At a Marine Corps base in Hawaii, secular activists took on the task of “booting God from base.” The military had dared to have a public sign at the base which read as follows:
GOD BLESS THE MILITARY, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE CIVILIANS WHO WORK WITH THEM.
The sign had been on the base since the time of the radical jihadist attacks on America September 11, 2001. Now comes the radical, intolerant secularist group known as MILITARY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOUNDATION (religious freedom?). The sign and its message, so says this group is unconstitutional. The Constitution forbids, they said, the military to support the wishing of GOD’S BEST for the military and their families. Their ragged rationale said that the sign sends the message that the base:
“Gives preference to those who hold religious beliefs over those who do not, and those who prefer a monotheistic, intervening God over other deities or theologies.”
Say what? Incredible. That led Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham organization, one really good man, right-thinker and solid Christian to state:
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
Too much, too far, too radical. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Enter the ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM legal group, another great organization. Vet them and support them, like Judicial Watch. The ADF said after exhaustive research that there were not Constitutional barriers to a sign like this and the sign stayed up. Yet another illustration of the Obama military. This Teflon President sits back, winks, others do his dirty work and the military erodes. So much for American veterans, heroes, our protectors. The combat they face comes internally, more so than externally. It comes from our politicians, our President. Those who care only for radical social makeover, RADICAL OBAMA CHANGE! From the beginning of his Presidency in 2008, it was clear to all that Obama was anti-military. His policy showed that he was all about downsizing, fund-cutting and changing, radically changing the military and its role in America. He has done that most successfully, more so than any President before, or perhaps all Presidents before him. This President has been an absolute disaster for the American military, its veterans, his heroes, its wounded warriors. Even as you remember those who died or were wounded for our protection November 11, remember our President, their Commander in Chief who really cares little about them. Speaking of warfare, spiritual warfare, I am reminded that there is the promise of the God of the Universe who reminds us that VENGEANCE IS HIS. Those who do wrong will see that wrong made right. What goes around comes around, President Barack Hussein Obama. You have done our military great harm, lasting harm. You will leave that legacy and we will never forget.
So, my fellow Americans, I ask that you take a stand, a stand like Marine and Combat Veteran and now High School Football Coach Joe Kennedy. Take a stand for what you believe. Take a stand for America. Take a stand for the United States Military, the Army, the Navy, the Airforce, the Marines, the National Guard and all who serve to protect. Take a stand to protect and defend THEM even as they do us. Stand up to this President, to the rampant injustices which are occurring in our military and seemingly without end. Standup for what is right, for America, for our liberties which now more than ever must be protected by our military. There are those like Iran and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei who would passionately want:
DEATH TO AMERICA
We can not let that happen. We need our military now more than ever. We need our veterans, our heroes, our combat soldiers, our military scientists. We need our warriors, wounded or not now more than ever. Honor them, salute them, encourage them and thank them. We owe them.
God can not bless America unless we the people bless our very own veterans, the men and women who keep us:
FREE
In the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.