Arlington National Cemetery Marks Centennial of Tomb of the Unknowns-- Part 2

 On November 11,  -- the anniversary of the war's end, celebrated as veterans Day in the United States -- the anonymous remains were interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, in the newly built Tomb of then Unknown Soldier, dedicated to all unidentified Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

In 1931-32  a craved marble superstructure was placed atop the tomb, completing the memorial familiar to  present-day visitors.

Since then Arlington burial details have interred American unknowns from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, though in 1998 the last one was exhumed, identified and returned to his family for reburial.

Guarding the memorial around the clock are select sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard").

Arlington National Cemetery plans several events to mark the centennial of the tomb, leading up to a formal ceremony on Veterans Day.  It invited the public to visit, pay silent respect and recall the men whose names remain a mystery but whose sacrifice must never be forgotten.

 

In Honor of Veterans Day 2021: The Last Spanish-American War Survivors, Jones Morgan,

From the Spanish-American War  Centennial Website.

The last surviving veteran of the war was a black man named Jones Morgan who passed away in Richmond, Virginia,  on August 29, 1993, at the incredible age of 110.  His records, however, were lost in a fire.

He was born on October 23, 1882, in Newberry County, South Carolina, and ran away from home at age 15 to join the Army which he did in 1897, signing up with the  9th U.S. Cavalry, known as the "Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black unit.

He served for two years before his family located him  and had him discharged.  Since he had runaway and was underage, it is likely that he used an alias when he originally enlisted, making his records nearly impossible to find.

He served as a cook and as a horse wrangler and was in Cuba and at the assault on San Juan Hill although he apparently did not take part in it.  He also indicated that he helped  wrangle horses for the Rough Riders.

He was buried in Section 16 of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, Section 16.

A World War II Marine Comes Home, A Fitting Veterans Day Story-- Part 1

From the November 10, 2020, East Bay Times by Peter Hagarty.  San Mateo, California.

A U.S. Marine  has come to his final resting place decades after gunfire cut him down as he was defending this nation thousands of miles  from home.

Howard Miller died during the grueling Island Hopping Campaign across the Pacific as Americans moved closer and closer to striking distance against Japan. Back then, his brothers in arms lowered the 22-year-old  private first class into  an unmarked grave on Betio, a little-known island that is part of the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands.

His remains were flown into San Francisco where active-duty Marines in full dress blues moved the casket and it was then transported  to San Mateo for burial.

Chicago's Veterans Day Ceremony To Be Held in Soldier Field Today

Mayor Lightfoot will be at Chicago's Veterans Day ceremony at Chicago's monument to our veterans, Soldier Field by the lakefront, weather permitting as we are having snow and blustery winds.

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About Chicago's Soldier Field

From Wikipedia.

On Chicago's Near South Side.  Capacity for football 61,500, the third smallest in the NFL.  Home field of the Chicago Bears, who moved there in 1971  from Wrigley Field.    It is now the second-oldest stadium in the NFL since the Los Angeles Rams moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum which was built a year before Soldier Field.

Designed in 1919 and opened in 1924.  Originally called Municipal Grant Park Stadium.  The name was changed to Soldier Field on November 11, 1925, as a memorial to U.S. soldiers who had died in combat.

Its formal dedication as Soldier Field was held on November 27, 1926, for the 29th playing of the annual Army-Navy game.

A Well-Deserved Honor for Out Veterans.

"The Deadliest Weapon In the World" USMC

Today marks the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  Tomorrow marks the 100th year since the end of World War I, and, of course, Veterans Day.

Probably the greatest compliment ever paid to the Marines is this quote by the Commander of American Forces in Europe during World War I, John "Blackjack" Pershing.

"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."

Oh Yeah!!  Thanks General.  --CootMarine

Five Great Places to Honor Our Veterans This Veterans Day

From the November 10, 2017, USA Today  "10 great places to honor military on Veterans Day" Larry Bleiberg.

He has more written about each site.  I'm just listing them.

1.  Lejeurne Memorial Gardens--  Jacksonville, North Carolina

2.  USS Alabama Battleship Park--  Mobile, Alabama

3.  USS Arizona Memorial--  Honolulu, Hawaii

4.  National Museum of the Marine Corps--  Triangle, Virginia

5.  Soldiers' National Cemetery--  Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

I'd like to add the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Here's Hoping That Everyone Will Do Something Today to Honor Our Veterans.  --Cooter

Veterans Day Through the Ages-- Part 6: Resisting the Change

Veterans Day was moved from November 11 to the fourth Monday in October.  Many of the states, with support from veterans, refused to celebrate the holiday on any day other than the significant November 11th.  This pressure by the American public and veterans caused Congress to return Veterans Day to November 11, which was accomplished by 1978.

Throughout the nation Veterans are honored on this date and many of the services are mindful of including the time of that cessation of fighting in World War I, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

This is the time that the American Legion family and VFW in Fox Lake, Illinois, have their ceremony.

Veterans Day Through the Ages-- Part 5: Creation of the Three-Day Weekend

However, it was many years before those who had served and lived through World War I began to think of it other than Armistice Day.

Veterans were pleased with the celebration of Veterans Day as it continued to honor and recognize the importance of that date to World War I veterans and still included those who served in later wars.

Then the federal government interfered in 1968 with the creation of three-day  holidays for federal employees with the passage of the Uniform Holiday Bill.  The holidays affected were Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.

Officials believed these three-day weekends would encourage tourism throughout the country.  However, this meant that these holidays would not always occur on the exact day as previously celebrated.

Veterans Day, Through the Ages-- Part 4: Name Changed to Veterans Day

The states, by actions of their legislatures had begun to make Armistice Day a state holiday already, but it took U.S. Congress until May 1938 to proclaim it as an official federal holiday.

It should be noted that there are no national holidays as the states retain the right to designate their own holidays.  The federal government can only designate holidays for federal employees and the District of Columbia.  Essentially, most states follow along with the federal designations.  That is why some states don't observe some national holidays.

As other wars came along, many if the veteran service organizations began lobbying to change Armistice Day to veterans Day to honor those who had fought in all wars, not just World War I.

They successfully achieved their goal in 1954 when Congress voted to change the name to veterans Day.

Veterans Day: Through the Decades, Across the Wars-- Part 2: Tomb of the Unknowns

On the first Armistice Day, November 11, 1919,  business was halted at 11 a.m., just as the war halted at 11 a.m..

In 1921, another significant event occurred on November 11.  On this date the remains of an unidentified American soldier, who had lost his life in World War I, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.  On that same day, the remains of other soldiers who had lost their lives and couldn't be identified were laid to rest in their countries.

A French soldier was entombed at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and an English soldier's remains were buried at Westminster Abbey in London.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been maintained as a national monument (and a very fitting one), but it is now known as the Tomb of the Unknowns when remains of unidentified from other branches of service and wars were also entombed.

Veterans Day: Through the Decades, Across the Wars-- Part 1: Armistice Day

From the November 9, 2016, Hi-Liter by Sandra Landen Machaj.

It happens every year on November 11.  The nation celebrates Veterans Day.  Sadly, not all schools are out this day.  I understand that we have Memorial Day in May to honor those who have fallen and served, but I think another day of remembrance would definitely be in order.  As a teacher, I know that other teachers do not teach about the significance of these days.

Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day, a day to commemorate the end of World War I or as it was originally known, the Great War.  A temporary cessation to the fighting agreed to begin on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 between the Allied and German forces.

This was not the official end of the war, as some believe.  That didn't take place until the Treaty of Versailles and not signed between Germany and the Allied nations until June 28, 1919.  At that signing, Allied interests were represented by British Prime Minister David Lloyd, French Premier George Clemenceau and U.S. President  Woodrow Wilson.

Illinois Veterans by War

WORLD WAR II--  70,933

KOREAN WAR--  87,394

VIETNAM WAR ERA--  253,578

GULF WAR (Aug 1990-Aug. 2001)-- 100,626

GULF WAR II (Sept. 2001-later)--  68,308

PEACETIME ONLY--  189.975

--DaCoot

A Look at Veterans in Illinois

From the Nov. 11, 2015, Chicago Tribune "A look at veterans in Illinois."

November 11th was Veterans Day and the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are nearly 3/4 million veterans currently living in Illinois.

Veteran Population in Illinois:  727,919

Unemployment Rate for Illinois veterans:  7.0%

Illinois veterans who are women:  5.7%

Illinois veterans who are homeless:  1,234

Illinois county with lowest percentage of veterans:  Cook with 5.4%

Illinois county with highest percentage of veterans:  St. Clair County 14.9%

--Cooter

A Band of Brothers and Sisters-- Part 4: The VFW

There were actually two major veterans organizations predating these two.  After the Civil War, Union military members formed the Grand Army of the Republic and Confederate veterans formed the United Confederate Veterans.

The VFW was formed before the American Legion in 1899.  The American Veterans of Foreign service was founded to help veterans of the Spanish-American War.  In 1914, the organization merged with the National Society of the Army of the Philippines formed to help veterans of the 1899-1902 Philippines War.

It became the Veterans of Foreign Wars and was chartered by Congress in 1936.  there are currently more than 1.7 million VFW and auxiliary members.

A Band of Brothers and Sisters: The VFW and American Legion-- Part 3: Not the Same

The major distinction between the VFW and the American Legion is in their eligibility for membership.  The VFW offers membership to all current and former military veterans who served overseas in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan or other smaller expeditionary campaigns or occupation duty.

In contrast, the American Legion invites all active military duty or honorably discharged soldiers who have served during any of the seven eligible war eras to become members.  Reservists and National Guard members are also eligible for membership.

The service could have taken place here in the U.S. or overseas.  The seven war eras eligible include World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Operation Just Cause Panama and Persian Gulf/War on terrorism.

So, the main difference is that in the VFW you would have had to been overseas which is in keeping with its name.

A Band of Brothers and Sisters: VFW and American Legion-- Part 2

Mike LaRocco, VFW District 3 Commander and a member of the Ted Sempien VFW Post 8821 in Chicago identifies the role of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) as "being there to meet the unmet needs of veterans.  We support the homeless veterans program."  Plus there is the suicide situation which continues to get worse.  According to him, every day 22 veterans kill themselves.

A Band of Brothers and Sisters: VFW and American Legion-- Part 1

From the Nov. 6, 2015, Chicago Tribune.

When many think of the American Legion or VFW they think of where they attended a Friday fish fry or celebrated a wedding or anniversary.  In reality, these organizations are a lot more.

George Ma'Aytech, commander of the William McKinley American Legion Post 231 in Chicago says that a few years ago, he saw a picture of a guy panhandling who turned out to be a serviceman who served in 1945 and was in Japan after the bomb was dropped.  he kept his picture in his office.

He finally located the man and connected him with assistance services.  Today, 89-year-old Eugene Towardy is the oldest veteran at Post 231.  he is legally blind and without nearby relatives except for his buddies at the post who take care of him.

Thank a Veteran Today or Anytime.

Veterans Day McHenry, Illinois, 2014: Dedication of Vietnam War Memorial

On Nov. 11, 2014, i was outside at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown McHenry, Illinois, on a blustery, rainy day, paying homage to four young McHenry men who never got the chance to grow old.  They were killed in Vietnam.

Two of the dead were twins.

It was a cold, gray day.

The McHenry High School Class of 2014 donated $900 to the memorial and the school's chorus sang in the gazebo.: "America the Beautiful," "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and closed with "God Bless America."

McHenry's mayor remarked, "It's a beautiful day in McHenry," which it surely, despite the weather, was.  Any time you can honor those who have given the last full measure, it is a beautiful day indeed.

After the ceremony, we all moved across the park to the memorial itself, which was a project on the McHenry Class of 1964. The names of the four McHenry men is listed and then the site of their deaths was marked on a map of Vietnam.  Facts and pictures of the war are engraved on the back of it.

One was killed just eight days after his arrival.  One was a Marine who served one tour and was killed in his second.

We were back in the park on March 14, 2015, while enjoying the St. Patrick's celebration and paid our respects.

Young Lives Cut Way Short.

Civil War Trust to Preserve Revolutionary War Battlefields on This Veterans Day

The Civil War Trust, the nation's largest Civil War battlefield preservation group, who have saved over 40,000 acres of the field of conflict from that war, will announce today that they will now also save Revolutionary War battlefields as part of their expanding mission.

The announcement will be made at the Princeton Battle memorial in New Jersey.

Glad to hear It.

Veterans Day 2013: Armistice With Germany

From Wikipedia.

Also known as Armistice of Compiegne after location where it was signed. Went into effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Victory for Allies and total defeat for Germany, even though they never surrendered.

Included cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of German troops to their own borders, promise of reparations, disposition of German warships and submarines and other conditions.

Largely written by Allied Supreme Commander Ferdinand Foch of France. It ended the actual fighting but the war not officially over until six months later, when, after much negotiation, the Paris Peace Conference concluded with the Treaty of Versailles.

--Cooter