November 11, 2004

There were 2 posts published on November 11, 2004 (this is page 1 of 1).

Voted Today?

Did you vote today? You might have had the chance, thanks to the work of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform. Among other recommendations, the bipartisan commission, headed jointly by former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, suggested that elections take place on a federal holiday, possibly on Veterans Day.

While President Bush gave tacit approval to many of the Commission’s recommendations, the idea of voting on a holiday seems not to have been one of them. I think its a shame, personally. I consider the duty of voting to be important enough to deserve a holiday of its own. Maybe some day.

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Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day, everybody!!!!11!1!11!!!!

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, in recognition of the end of World War I. It was initially dedicated to the cause of world peace and meant to celebrate friendly ties between peoples. After the destruction wrought by the World War II and Korean Wars, veterans pushed in 1954 for Armistice Day to be renamed “Veterans Day.” Ike and Congress agreed, and thus Veterans Day was born, changing a bit in purpose to honor the sacrifice of our country’s veterans.

As a veteran, I’m honored to have a day recognizing my service. Yet veterans actually have two days honoring their service: Memorial Day was the first, being celebrated as early as 1868. Memorial Day, once a day to remember our nation’s fallen, has itself become largely forgotten, the country perhaps concluding that one day – Veterans Day – is sufficient recognition. This summer’s Memorial Day parade in Washington was the first in over sixty years. Sixty years!

Personally, I’d be happy shifting the focus of honoring veterans back to Memorial Day where it began, rather than having that day’s greatest significance be the start of the summer vacation seasion. Veterans Day could once again be Armistice Day, recognizing not only the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform but also celebrating peace once again.

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