Written by Karen D. Swim
In the United States today is Veteran’s Day. The holiday was originally known as Armistice Day and was to commemorate the temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany that went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” In 1919 President Eisenhower had this to say:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those
who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
I don’t know about you but a day to honor heroism, freedom, justice and peace doesn’t seem to be a bad deal. But this Veteran’s Day it seems to be business as usual. Banks and schools are open and there is no parade or flag flying. This day like the rest of November has been forgotten.
Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving have been shoved aside while marketers turn our attention to Christmas. The stores have been decked out in Christmas decorations since November 1st. Wreaths, ornaments and wrapping paper sit next to the Halloween sale items. Christmas carols play in the background with hopes of putting shoppers in a buying mood.
November has been shelved like a cheap polyester suit. It’s as though someone declared, “There’s no money in Thanksgiving. Push Christmas, that’s where the money is at. Push it early and we’ll double our profits.” Well, I like November! I like the crunch of Fall leaves and impromptu football games. I love Veteran’s Day parades and little flags that you can hold in your hand. I like pausing for a day and being grateful for my freedoms. I love Thanksgiving Day – a day where we celebrate the things that really matter in our life. I WANT MY NOVEMBER BACK!
I know that the eocnomy is bad but is this truly the answer? To my thinking, our present economic state is all the more reason for savoring a month of Thanksgiving. What better time to connect with what matters and give thanks? Why wouldn’t we want to slow the pace down this month and allow our minds and body a break from the stress of this past year?
I’m not ready to deck the halls and ring the sleigh bells. I want tofurkey, and cranberry sauce. I want to gather with my family and marvel at how the youngsters have grown and laugh at my Grandmother’s jokes. I want to walk in a house filled with the warmth of family and inhale the intoxicating scent of cinnamon. I want to squeeze into a tiny little space on the couch and yell at the football game. Is it really necessary to squeeze out November to make a buck?
What are you seeing where you live? Is this November different for you? I’ll be watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special and looking for the last remaining pile of leaves. Join me? 🙂
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