Today is a Very Special Day
An encore newsletter to salute our veterans and talk about why 11/11 is significant around the world.
Good morning!
Today is Veteran’s Day, and I'm sharing this special issue again to acknowledge the day and honor veterans everywhere. Since we’ve got a number of new subscribers, I wanted to be sure everyone had a chance to read it.
🇺🇲 First, to all the veterans… thank you for your service! 🇺🇲
In the United States, today is the day we honor our military veterans who have served in past and present U.S. wars. 🇺🇲❤️
Remembrance Day
Around the world, November 11 is known as Remembrance Day, a day that was established by King George V in 1919, having evolved out of Armistice Day and the end of the conflict of WWI in 1918. In the US, we now refer to this day as Veterans Day.
What is the significance of the poppy?
Here in the US, it’s not uncommon to see people wearing a poppy on the lapel of their shirts as a way to acknowledge soldiers who have given their lives for our country. The American Legion distributes poppies on the Friday before Memorial Day and accepts donations to support the future of veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families with medical and financial needs. However, poppies are also distributed and worn on Veteran’s Day. (Here’s a great piece explaining this.)
But where did this tradition originate? Many around the world wear a poppy as a symbol of the red poppies found on the battlefields of northern France and Belgium during WWI. The poppy became associated with the fallen soldiers of these fields because of the poem In Flanders Field written by field physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae after the death of one of his friends in a WWI battle.
I first learned of Flanders Fields and its famous poppies when my mom’s painting was in an art show at the Milwaukee Catholic Home, where my parents lived from 2017 until 2020, the year each of my parents passed.
And, a special message from 1934 that we all need to read…
If you’ve followed my past newsletters and posts, you might know that my dad, the late Dr. James Algiers, was a WWII Veteran who served in the US Navy on the Island of Attu.
My dad spent the later years of his life writing emails to his childhood friend Louie, recalling the war and other historical events and stories from his childhood and adulthood.
In the spirit of Veterans Day, I’m sharing one of his reflections on war. In “Awaiting That Generation,” my dad recalls a speech he heard in 1934 when a man came in to speak to his class about WWI and the significance of Armistice Day. The man spoke of the atrocities of war and ended his talk with a dramatic plea to the students to be a better generation than that of their parents in hopes of preventing future wars. Read this moving piece here.
My dad, at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in July 1944.
With that, I’ll close today’s newsletter with a message of sincere gratitude and thanks to all veterans - living and deceased.
Also, I’ve included some resources below - podcasts, documentaries, and books about Veteran’s Day. Plus, there are some Veteran’s Day Sales to check out.
Abbey
🇺🇲VETERANS DAY SPECIALS🇺🇲
listen
Podcasts honoring Veterans Day - 7 podcasts paying tribute to our vets. I’m especially intrigued by this one, called She Wears the Boots - A Podcast for Women Veterans.
watch
Nine movies to watch on Netflix in honor of Veterans Day and more movie recs from Veterans.com.
read
We Are Teachers bring us some great books to explain Veterans Day to kids. Plus, a Veterans Day reading list with something for all ages.
buy
Veterans and military families should check these special deals or these from the Today Show’s list. Plus, Veterans Day deals for everyone.
