NOVEMBER 11 ... A Day Of Remembrance

13 November 1982
Dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Joseph Ambrose, an 86-year-old World War I veteran, holds the folded flag that covered the casket of his son who was killed in the Korean War.

old comrades
Veterans' Day


In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an armistice was signed. The 'war to end all wars' was over.

November 11 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the war in order to ensure a lasting peace.

Congress voted Armistice Day a legal holiday in 1938, twenty years after the war ended. But Americans realized that the previous war would not be the last one. World War II began the following year, and nations great and small again participated in a bloody struggle. After the Second World War, Armistice Day continued to be observed on November 11.

In 1953 townspeople in Emporia, Kansas called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town. Soon after, Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman renaming the national holiday to Veterans' Day.
In remembrance of


My Uncle, DeKalb Dennis, Holdenville Oklahoma, Sgt. 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma National Guard, who slowly died of wounds received September 1943 near Salerno.

My Cousin, Niels Iver Qvistgaard, Copenhagen Denmark, Cpl. USMC, who was killed in action in the 1st Marine Division in Korea, 10/26/52.

My best friends, Ron Cashman and Eddie Wright, dinkum Diggers in 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, '51-'53 (Several times wounded in action, Lifetime mates, passed away within weeks of each other in 2006).

All ships, their crews and squadrons I was privileged to serve with.

And with respect to all who ever honorably served in the American armed forces, at any time.
Birchard Lee Kortegaard



Subject: "What is the meaning of the folds of the flag that drape a casket?"

The premise is simple: the folds represent the same religious principles on which our nation was originally founded. When completely folded the flag will be in a "cocked hat" shape, with the blue canton denoting honor, and the blue contains the stars which represent the States the veteran fought for when wearing a uniform of the country's military services. The meaning of the folds are:
   First fold -- Symbol of life.
   Second fold -- Belief in eternal life
   Third fold -- Honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of his/her life for the defense of our country
   Fourth fold -- Represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to God we turn to in times of peace, as in time of war, for divine guidance
   Fifth fold -- Represents our country; "...still our country, right or wrong."
   Sixth fold -- Where our hearts lie, account it is with our hearts we pledge our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
   Seventh fold -- Tribute to the Armed Forces of our country who protect our country and flag against enemies, within and without the Republic.
   Eighth fold -- To honor the mother of the veteran.
   Ninth fold -- Honoring American womanhood through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion to the character of the men and women they have molded.
   Tenth -- Tribute to fathers, for they too, have given their sons and daughters for the defense of the country.
   Eleventh fold -- Glorifying the God of the Hebrews of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. Twelfth fold -- Glorifying the God of the New Testament, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

When the flag is completely folded the blue canton and stars are uppermost, reminding us of your national motto: "In God We Trust." When properly folded and tucked it looks like a cocked hat, reminding us of soldiers who served under General George Washington, and sailors and marines who served under John Paul Jones. They, followed by comrades, shipmates and airmen today, have preserved for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
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A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for

 A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt


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