What we call Veteran's Day is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice in the Forest of Campiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). This signified the end of World War I and was originally known as Armistice Day. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Congressional Resolution on Nov. 11, 1919, the first Armistice Day.
However, after World War II, the day began to lose meaning and since there were many other veterans to consider, the decision was made to change November 11th to honor all those who fought in American wars. The United States Congress passed an act to change the name to Veteran's Day and in 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed the act.
With that in mind, I would like to say "thank you" to all the men and women with whom I served, and to especially remember those who aren't with us anymore. As a former Hospital Corpsman, I wish a heartfelt "Semper Fi" to all my Marine friends.
- Tom Ellsworth
(HM2 USN 1965-69)
A SOLDIER PRAYS
Oh Lord!
Here we sit on this foreign soil,
So very far from home and loved one all.
Death so very near and we so very much afraid.
Please help my comrades and I,
For we wish not to die alone.
We pray that you will be here,
To hear our cry and us to your breast to take.
You are the only living Lord,
We give ourselves to you.
If we must die, and die we must,
Please take us home on high with you.
With outstretched hands we grasp for thee,
Thy love so tender and yet so strong.
Every breath of ours is yours to have,
We need you, Oh so very much Lord.
Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
Ocracoke Island North Carolina.
St. Johns Newfoundland.
Mt. Adams Washington State.
Glacier National Park Montana.
Marshall Indiana.
North Yorkshire England.
Baker Beach California.
Vancouver British Columbia.
