>It has come to my attention that poppies aren't worn on Vetran's day in the US. I'd thought that was an international thing.
>
>
http://www.canoe.ca/RemembranceDay/poppy.htmlEvan;
I was born 1942 and remember many calling November 11th “Armistice Day”, through the 1950's even though I see the United States Congress changed it to "Veterans Day" in 1938.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars would sell a lapel item with an artificial Poppy attached. I cannot remember the details. I have never seen a Red Poppy and bet it is beautiful. The Orange Poppy is the State Flower of California.
San Francisco had a mayor (mayor Di, we called her and she is now a State Senator) who refused to let the Veterans have their annual Memorial Day Parade. She stated it would cost too much for overtime paid to policemen to monitor the parade. A few weeks later San Francisco had its Gay Pride parade. The veterans stated they would never march in San Francisco again. So far they have kept this promise. She also refused to allow the Battleship Missouri to make San Francisco it’s home port. The’Mo’ is of course an historic object – being the place where the treaty ending the war with Japan was signed.
Things I remember about WWI affecting my life in some way:
1. A young man owned a house across from ours. He died in the war (1918) and a neighbor (his friend) took care of the property until it was sold in 1956. It sat empty until the sale. It seemed sad – but the friend hoped he would return.
2. The influenza epidemic of 1918. My grandmother and her brother both had the flu. My grandmother was 24 and her brother 25. They died within a week of each other, during the middle of November 1918, leaving a total of 7 children between the two families. My grandmother’s birthday is in November as is my mothers. My mom will be 87 in a few days. My grandfather (who raised me) lived for another 50 years and one month after he lost his wife.
By the way I am a veteran and have never had Veterans Day off. I told my wife she and the kid’s get the day off but I do not because I am a veteran and someone has to protect society. :)
Tom
