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Victory in Iraq Day
Today has been declared Victory in Iraq Day over at Zombietime. Me along with many other bloggers are also joining in the fextivities. I there any signifcance for the date of November 22???
Why November 22?
Several people have written in to ask what is significant about November 22; why was it chosen as the date for VI Day? The answer is: There’s nothing militarily significant about this day. There are no major events related to the Iraq War that happened on November 22. It’s just a convenient day, chosen essentially at random. Some date must be chosen, and this is just as good as any other, since there is no actual distinct date of surrender or of the war’s self-evident cessation.
Others have written in to ask: Won’t VI Day conflict with the anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, which happened on November 22, 1963? Well, I suppose it might, to those who mark that anniversary. But Victory in Iraq Day is not intended to be an annual holiday, celebrated on November 22 forevermore into the future; it’s a one-time only event, a declaration right now that the war is over right now. Not every end-of-a-war day becomes a national holiday. In fact, only November 11, Armistice Day for WWI, is still remembered as a national holiday (now called Veterans’ Day). Does anyone in America still throw a party on May 7 or 8, the days on which the Nazis surrendered, known as VE Day? Not that I now of. And the day on which WWII finally, totally came to an end was August 15, VJ Day, on which Japan surrendered. Yet there is no national holiday on August 15. And I’d wager that 95% of Americans couldn’t even tell you why August 15 was historically significant.
Considering all this, that even the victory in WWII did not become an annual holiday, it’s almost certain that VI Day will not become an annual holiday either — and thus will not conflict with any annual services marking Kennedy’s assassination. VI Day is a one-time only celebration.—Zombietime
By all accounts the War in Iraq is winding down. There is still some violence, but the country as a whole is under mostly Iraqi control now.
Go and read Zombietime’s great post on Victory in Iraq Day. He has laid out a great post about how the War in Iraq is essentially over. The Iraqi government has taken control of virtually all of the country and are in talks about having American troops come home. This is exactly what President Bush said victory would be.
Others posting :
Victory in Iraq Day: Participating Blogs
Christmas Cards
via email
Whether or not you think the war our country is in is a good thing or not….this is
a Christian thing to do….When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to the
address below. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how
many cards these special people who have sacrificed so much would receive.Please send a card to the following:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights , MD 20791-5456
Grass
While yesterday was Veterans Day, we were all thankful for all the soldiers, seamen, marines and sailors have done fort his country. They protect the freedoms we hold dearly and at great sacrifice. Many leave famlies with young children for years, and leave family members and friends behind. And all to protect our freedoms and to protect us from those that want to do us harm. And all to often we forget that these men and women are human and have feelings and are longing for home. I got this email from my mom about one soldier’s quest to bring some of home in a far off place.
I sure hope the picture will go through for you – of this Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny “plot of grass in front of his tent. It’s heartwarming!! Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq , stationed in a sandbox. He asked his wife to send him dirt ( U.S. Soil), fertilizer and some grass seed so he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil.
If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of scissors. Sometimes we are in
such a hurry that we don’t stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.
Upon receiving this, say a little prayer for our soldiers that give and give (and give up) so unselfishly for us.
You don’t have to send this on, but gosh, who wouldn’t?
Always rememeber the little stuff and never forget to thank all those brave men and women for all their service to this country. And never take for granite the freedoms we have because of these soldiers, seamen, maries and sailors. And always remember them, not just on Veterans Day.
Project Valor
Via Email
Once again I come to you asking for your consideration in helping some special people: Those who have been wounded in the service of our Nation. Each year, for the past three years, I have put my energy into supporting the VALOUR-IT program of Soldier’s Angels, for I see the value of helping get these service members back to some normalcy and provide them skills for their future.
Over 2700 laptops, loaded with voice-activated software have been handed out to our wounded, those who have either sight or mobility problems that deprives them of the ability to sit and type as we are able to do. All of those have been provided with 100% of the donations paying for the equipment, and all the labor and administration being donated by thousands of volunteers. The program is expanding to now fund GPS systems, items to help overcome Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and also game stations like the Nintendo Wii, which has proven to be a good physical therapy device. All of these, coupled with the laptops are needed.
This is the kind of donation I like: All meat, NO overhead!
While you will see donations buttons for five service teams (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard), the money all ends up in the same account. This split just gives some of us supporters some entertainment value in goading each other in the blogosphere along to success. My plea is you click on the Navy button, but if you feel inclined to click on any of the others due to personal, family or friends association, go for it!
You can mail donations to this address (Mark your checks for VALOUR-IT/Team Navy!):
Soldiers Angels
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104
The drive runs through Thanksgiving. If you could help pass this word along, I know some people will really appreciate your efforts.
I thank you in advance for your consideration,
Curt
P.S. One comment sent to Soldiers Angels by a recipient speaks to the meaning of this project:
“I don’t know where to start. I was thrilled and truly appreciative of the laptop donation that Soldiers Angels sent. My neurology team is ecstatic with the progress that I have made, yet we all temper our excitement as I still have a long recovery ahead. Due to the great hearts (sponsors, donors, volunteers and others too numerous to mention) within Soldiers Angels I have become more mobile in my rehabilitation and the laptop is absolutely one of the tools that I have in my recovery toolbox. I use it to keep current on my schedule and have several applications that assist with recovery.
I know that my recovery has been aided by the cards, letters, and notes sent by your Angels. I love to read them and have started to send Thank You’s to many of them. I just want you and everyone to know that your organization is a Godsend to Soldiers. Please send this note of Thanks to the appropriate personnel, and if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.
God Bless You and God Bless America.
Lieutenant Colonel X”
Veterans Day 2008
H/T to Fort Hard Knox
11-11-1918 at the 11th hour – We Remember
The famous English poem by Laurence Binyon
H/T Centre Right blog
For the Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is a music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end they remain.
Source: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2008/11/age-shall-not-w.html
Julia
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