At the 11th hour in the 11th month on the 11th day, we will celebrate Armistice Day also known as Remembrance Day and now known as Veteran's Day. Veteran's Day is a day we celebrate all those who have served, are currently serving, and will serve in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
In our small New England town of Georgetown, MA our veterans will assemble at 10:40 a.m. at Harry Murch Veteran's Park, located on East Main Street just before the town square.
I am sharing my speech below
Good Morning Ladies & Gentlemen, Veterans, & Honored Guests.
It is now the 11th day of the 11th month @the 11th hour.
I am Doug Dawes, Commander of the Georgetown Rene J. Gagnon American Legion Post #211. On behalf of Post #211 and the Georgetown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7608, we welcome you to Veterans Day 2023.
On this 11th Day of November 1918 @1100 hours, the cease-fire ending WWI went into effect
Veterans Day is a day set aside to officially celebrate all those who have served our country.
When my 4 sisters and I were growing up my father, a WWII Marine in the Pacific Theater, and his father a WWI veteran in France, taught us many things. Here’s what they taught us about serving.
"When you live in a community you need to become part of it and serve within that community, e.g. Bloom where you are planted. It’s your obligation."
“If you are not part of the solution you’re part of the problem or are the problem.”
“Always remember to vote!”
"When the government asks you to serve you don’t say No.”
He also said, "Always remember to brush your teeth before putting your tie on".
That being said, veterans take serving seriously and are a driving force in communities all over this country. Currently, veterans makeup about 6% of the USA population (about 18.5M) and can be found serving in a myriad of capacities in both the private and public sectors. I don’t remember where I read this, but it's forecast the veteran population will decrease by 35% by the year 2050 to approximately 11.8M. (unless, God forbid, we’re dragged into another war and I pray we are not).
Let us learn from our veteran’s commitment to freedom & service and teach it to our children and grandchildren so they never forget or worse, never know the sweet aroma of freedom. Remember, freedom is not free.
God Bless those who stand watch, God Bless Georgetown, God Bless Massachusetts, God Bless the United States of America, and most of all may God Bless each of you.
Comments(28)