A Day To Remember

Tales to Help, Learn, And Share

November 11th is Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries and Veterans Day in the United States. Both are dedicated to honoring military personnel who have served their countries. Remembrance Day, symbolized by the red poppy, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," primarily honors those who died in service. In contrast, Veterans Day honors all living and deceased veterans.

Despite these subtle differences, the essence of both observances is the same: to remember the millions who have faced danger and those among them who died. They deserve to be remembered purely, detached from complaints or arguments about why they were sent into harm's way.

Below are eleven pieces I have written to help this effort to remember. I picked eleven to help explain why this day falls on November 11th. The 11th stands firm; we do not move the day to make a long weekend for a quick trip or barbeque. It was chosen because the end of World War One was November 11th, 1918, at 11 AM, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Poppies From My Mother’s Garden.

1. This one is about a little-known battle during the Vietnam War: The Unknown Battle For Ripcord—Anchoring Bias and Betraying The Truth.

2. This touches on the toll war takes: Broken And Then Unbroken - Hanging Around With Heroes (A Series Ep 8).

3. This is on one of the greatest groups of people I have ever had the privilege to get to know: Red Tails And The Power Of Diversity - Hanging Around With Heroes, A Series (Ep. 6).

4. This is the tale of a journey back to the battlefield: Crouching Beast And Concealed Cancer - Hanging Around With Heroes, A Series (Ep. 5).

5. This one remembers one of the American military’s greatest leaders: Seeping Into Your Soul - Hanging Around With Heroes, A Series (Ep. 4).

6. I don’t have a favorite veteran, but this one is about him: Hanging Around With Heroes - Celebrity Encounters of A Sort. A Series (Ep. 1).

7. I don’t think Elizabeth is technically a veteran, but she deserves to be remembered: For Love of Country and Chocolate - A Lesson In Individualism.

8. Some people act before others: The First Americans - Then and Now - Hanging Around With Heroes (A Series Ep 7).

9. Fighter pilots. What more is there to say: The Ghost Kyiv - Myth and Truth - Hanging Around With Heroes, A Series (Ep. 3).

10. Hard to comprehend levels of courage: Bridges, Bravery and Obligation - Hanging Around With Heroes, A Series (Ep. 2).

11. Hubert Nichols. Do you know that name? Should you? 9/11 A Generation Later - Never Forget There is Much to Remember.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields.