Being a fan of any federal government holiday because my commute is cut in half aside, I am a big fan of Amanda's thoughts on the day!
Since I don't know many veterans (and shame on me for that...) I hope I am not too out of line when suggesting that all service personell, regardless of their status, should be honored (or "remembered" if you like) today.
Here in the US we have Memorial day which gets more attention (it happens to mark the beginning of summer -and we all get a day off, not just those working for the federal government...). In my mind that day is even more limited in scope as it is intended as a "day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service" - no survivors or indeed veterans living or dead...
I motion that Veterans Day gets renamed Remembrance Day and gets bumped up to full public holiday status. If you are serving your country you deserve a special thank you, more so if you are alive than dead, and if you can only get one day of honor then it should be a full day for all to observe!
So, this shout out is to all of you; being a pacifist makes me all the more humble about your service and sacrifice!
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2 comments:
What? WHAT!? Are you tellin' me EVERYONE doesn't get a day off work on federal holidays like Vets' Day?
What about MLK, Jr. Day? Presidents' Day? Stuff like that? I went from a high school that didn't observe ANY holidays except for Christmas & Thanksgiving, to a university in another country entirely with random "Bank" Holidays (WTH?), to my current Federal Holiday Observing (you betcha') employer.
I think I might be holiday-observance impared. This is a startling discovery. (Yet another one.)
MLK, Presidents, Columbus and friends are not public holidays for all to celebrate - government and banks honor them, most private enterprise ignores them or gives their employees 'flex holidays' so they can pick and choose.
Here is an experpt from the presidential proclamation of Leif Ericcson day:
To honor Leif Erikson, the brave son of Iceland and grandson of Norway, and to recognize our Nation's Nordic-American heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim October 9 of each year as "Leif Erikson Day."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2002, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to honor our rich Nordic-American heritage.
Appropriate ceremonies my ass: NOTHING happened, and traffic was the same as always!
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