Today is Veterans day, a day where we honor those who have served in the United States armed forces.
By the way the official spelling does not include an apostrophe. The day does not belong to the veterans but instead is about them.
Memorial day is a holiday in May where we honor those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.
Armed forces day also occurs in May. It is a day where we honor those currently serving in our armed forces.
I thank all of our veterans.
Freedom is not free.
Brutus
elpasospeak 
Thank you for taking the time to provide those reminders. This veteran is tired of having to tell people that Memorial Day has nothing to do with me, nor does this day have anything to do with those who died in service to this nation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for serving our country Veterans ❗️
LikeLike
God Bless the USA Armed Services: Past – Present – Future.
LikeLike
For the rest of the world it’s Armistice day, made to reflect on the Armistice at the end of WWI.
This veteran thinks perhaps we lose something in the move from celebrating cessation of war to celebrating soldiers.
LikeLike
Perhaps we should reflect on the fact that the war to end all wars didn’t—and armistice terms for Germany helped pave the way for Hitler’s rise to power. We honor soldiers because in a world where there are those who still seek to wage war, we need people who will make the sacrifices associated with military service to stop them. I’m an Army brat and a former Army wife. I watched my dad deal with a society that “honored” his return from his second tour in Vietnam with screams of pig and baby killer. So, honestly, I think honoring those who serve is appropriate. Veterans who have served in combat or make the military a career give up a lot that is never fully compensated for. It’s nice to see that service honored.
LikeLike
> and armistice terms for Germany helped pave the way for Hitler’s rise to power.
Excellent points, and all good reasons to stay out of other peoples’ wars.
> where there are those who still seek to wage war, we need people who will make the sacrifices associated with military service to stop them
True. The U.S. has been at war for 93% of all calendar years since our founding. It’s time to admit we might be part of the problem.
> I think honoring those who serve is appropriate.
I have no problem with that.
I do think that it’s easier for the general public to say “thank you for your service” or to slap on a “we support the troops” bumper sticker than to consider how and where we use those warriors. The best way to honor vets, IMO, is to keep the U.S. military out of unnecessary wars.
LikeLike
Frater Jason,
I don’t disagree with the idea of keeping our troops out of unnecessary wars. Eisenhower’s warning about the military industrial complex was spot on and pretty much every military conflict/war after WWII was unnecessary. Even my dad who served in Vietnam as one of the initial military advisors in 64-65 and later in 68-69 said that by that second tour he could see it was unwinnable. What I disagreed with was the idea of ceasing to have Veterans Day. Peace through strength is a valid concept. And honoring those who serve helps ensure folks still see it as worthy career option. And while the media is vilifying Trump’s decision to pull back in Syria, I actually think he is also trying to break the cycle of involvement in conflicts that we can’t win and shouldn’t be involved in. We’ve achieved energy independence from the Middle East and now it really is time to stop trying to solve conflicts that are 1000s of years old. It is interesting to watch folks who used to anti-war rant about that decision along folks who have always been hawks. The problem isn’t soldiers, it is politicians and contractors who make a ton of money sending soldiers to fight wars we can’t win.
LikeLike
Agreed on all points. I wasn’t suggesting we cease to have Veterans Day; I may not have made that part clear.
Thanks for the thoughtful responses. .
LikeLike