With Gratitude For All Who Served!

 

The Real Story And History Of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended  when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. 

However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh mont, exactly one hundred years ago today. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "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…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts 

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Can't Help But Ask About THIS . . .

 

An Important Announcement From President Trump

 

It's Gone Viral And Generating Mucho Buzz!

Italian American Heritage Month:Vincent Capodanno, Jr.

Every day this month we will spotlight a different noteworthy Italian-American.

Vincent Robert Capodanno Jr. (February 13, 1929 – September 4, 1967) 

Vincent R. Capodanno Jr. was a Catholic priest and Maryknoll Missioner killed in action while serving as a Navy chaplain with a Marine Corps infantry unit during the Vietnam War. 

He was a posthumous recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. The Catholic Church has declared him a Servant of God, the first of the four stages toward possible sainthood.

From his military citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, in connection with operations against enemy forces. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lt. Capodanno left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. 

Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant marines. 

Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, Lt. Capodanno rushed in a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine-gun fire. 

By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lt. Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.

In Which X Post Asks A VERY Astute Question!

June 10, 1944. Normandy. Those US soldiers were there fighting Nazi occupiers. Did God not hear their prayers, @pontifex? Was that military chaplain's mass invalid?

What are you even saying here? https://t.co/iIiNS6xWAA pic.twitter.com/F8l7X43QXi

— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) September 20, 2026

Trump Scores Strategic Win On Greenland!

When you look at Greenland from the top of the world and the Arctic Circle, you can see how critical it is. I've been to the Arctic and to Greenland and I can attest to this. 

Remember when everyone laughed when Trump expressed that he wanted to buy Greenland? Remember how people who have known Trump for years (Bill O'Reilly, for example) stated that Trump was going for the home run and that he would put Denmark back on their heels. Remember how the left laughed at all this?

Well, well . . . .

The White House has officially announced that the U.S. has signed an agreement that makes Denmark the permanent location for the United States Military in Greenland in perpetuity - protecting our backside and cutting out Russia and China from trying to set up bases there or even occupy the country, which they have been wanting to do for decades.

More national security. More wins for the America! Will President Trump get appropriate credit for all this? Don't hold your breath -- BUT, be sure to vote Republican in this upcoming election!

Greenland: Great News From President Trump!

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

BREAKING NEWS: I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.

There will be NO COST to the United States! At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America. Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.

For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it. I am proud to be the President that permanently and conclusively addressed this very important situation.

This is an “Infinite Life” Agreement, there is no end! We are very honored and proud of what has just taken place, and everything agreed to today will be cherished by the American People.

We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction.

This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies. We look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land. We will be very protective of it!

This is a dream come true for the United States of America, one that is very important, historic, and special. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

President DONALD J. TRUMP

President Trump's Historic Record Of Accomplishment!

In less than two years, President Donald J. Trump has driven the most consequential stretch of governing in modern American history. He inherited a disaster — and turned it into a historic comeback. President Trump sealed the border, drove violent crime to historic lows, unleashed American energy, cut taxes for working families, focused Washington on merit and common sense, and deployed American strength on the global stage.   Promises made. Promises kept. Results delivered.

Securing America’s Borders and Putting Americans First President Trump ended Democrats’ open borders disaster, established the strongest border in history, and restored American sovereignty. The Trump Administration immediately ended “catch-and-release” — and has not released a single illegal alien into the country for 15 straight months. The U.S. recorded negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in at least half a century. More than three million migrants have left the country in President Trump’s second term — the largest reduction in illegal immigration in modern history — with the illegal alien population down by at least 2.3 million. Under President Trump, asylum is now granted in just 7% of cases — a historic low — plummeting from over 50% rubber-stamped under Biden. The Trump Administration has stopped more than 10,000 narcoterrorists from entering the country. ICE has arrested more than 10,000 illegal alien gang members. President Trump designated major foreign cartels as terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Clan del Golfo. President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, HALT Fentanyl Act, and Secure America Act into law — mandating detention of violent illegal alien criminals, permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, and delivering the largest border enforcement investment in a generation. Fentanyl trafficking at the southern border collapsed 56% and fentanyl-linked deaths plunged 22% in a single year. The Trump Administration cut illegals off taxpayer benefits, revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals, carried out the largest denaturalization effort in history, and launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal alien CDL fraud to get unvetted drivers off America’s roads.

Making Communities Safe Again President Trump ended Democrats’ sick war on law enforcement and restored the simple idea that violent criminals belong behind bars. The U.S. murder rate fell to a historic low in 2025 — the lowest level in 125 years — after the largest annual drop in violent crime in American history. Preliminary data show the collapse continuing in the first half of 2026, with violent crime down another 10%, murders down another 23%, and rapes down another 18.6% over the same period last year. The Trump Administration has captured nine of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives — more than twice as many as the entire previous four-year Administration — and five of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters. President Trump’s campaign to make Washington, D.C. safe and beautiful again has produced more than 17,000 arrests, cut homicides by more than 50% from Biden-era levels, and restored dozens of neglected fountains, statues, and monuments.

Rebuilding an Economy for Working Americans President Trump engineered a blue-collar boom with lower taxes, more factories, trillions in new investment, and fair trade that puts American workers first again. President Trump is the first President in modern history to actually lower prescription drug prices — delivering the biggest drop in 63 years. President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts, delivering No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, and no tax on Made-in-America car loan interest. President Trump established Trump Accounts, giving eligible American children a tax-advantaged investment account and a $1,000 government seed contribution — already activated for millions of American kids. President Trump delivered the biggest tax refund season on record, with 97% of filers receiving a tax cut. President Trump’s America First trade agenda has secured more than 20 new trade deals as companies re-shore production and increase domestic capabilities. President Trump has ignited a manufacturing renaissance, with the manufacturing sector expanding for eight straight months after years of Biden-era contraction. President Trump has created more than one million private sector jobs in his second term, including nearly 100,000 factory construction jobs and 58,000 manufacturing jobs this year alone. President Trump launched an unprecedented crackdown on fraud — uncovering hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud and stopping tens of billions in fraudulent payments after only a few months of work. President Trump has secured more than $11 trillion in new U.S. investment, including $1.4 trillion from the United Arab Emirates, $600 billion from Apple, and $340 billion from Amazon. The Trump Administration secured the Ratepayer Protection Pledge covering 80% of power delivered to American homes and businesses — protecting 263 million Americans when a data center is built nearby. President Trump secured commitments from dozens of the nation’s largest grocery chains to cut prices on thousands of household essentials. President Trump delivered historic relief for America’s farmers and ranchers by eliminating the death tax, cutting crop insurance premiums, and restoring the right to process and sell meat across state lines.

Restoring American Military Might and Peace Through Strength President Trump put lethality back at the center of the U.S. military amid an endless pursuit of peace abroad. President Trump eliminated DEI from Pentagon hiring and promotion — putting warfighting back at the center of the force. Military branches averaged 103% of recruiting goals in 2025 — the best recruiting year in 15 years. President Trump launched an unprecedented effort to rebuild our defense industrial base. President Trump restored nine military bases to their rightful names. President Trump established the Board of Peace to bring prosperity, order, and reconstruction to Gaza. President Trump has ended eight major wars and conflicts, including between Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Israel and Iran, and the War in Gaza. President Trump brought all living hostages home from Hamas captivity. President Trump secured the release of more than 100 American hostages from captivity abroad. President Trump obliterated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and launched Operation Epic Fury against the world’s number one state sponsor of terror. President Trump captured socialist dictator and indicted narcoterrorist Nicolas Maduro — bringing him to U.S. soil to face long-overdue justice. President Trump secured a transformational NATO agreement — raising member countries’ defense spending contributions to 5% of GDP — and convinced the alliance to more than double its collective defense spending.

Unleashing American Energy Dominance and Crushing Red Tape President Trump turned the U.S. back into a global energy superpower and spearheaded the biggest deregulatory shock in history. The U.S. achieved record domestic oil and gas production in 2025 and record crude and petroleum-product exports in 2026. America set a world liquified natural gas export record in 2025 as the first country ever to ship more than 100 million metric tons in a single year. President Trump secured the biggest oil deal in world history, delivering the U.S. majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Venezuela. President Trump opened hundreds of millions of acres for oil, gas, and coal production, and reinvigorated America’s beautiful clean coal industry. President Trump revoked the Obama-era Endangerment Finding — the single-largest deregulatory action in American history, worth $1.3 trillion. President Trump’s government-wide deregulatory mandate is projected to save the U.S. economy $1.5 trillion in FY2026 alone. The Trump Administration’s unprecedented government efficiency reforms have already saved an estimated $215 billion — about $1,335 per taxpayer — and shrunk the federal workforce to its lowest level since 1966.

Defending Women, Children, Biological Reality — and Common Sense President Trump put truth and common sense back into federal policy. President Trump declared it the official policy of the U.S. Government that there are only two immutable sexes: male and female. President Trump banned federal funding, sponsorship, or promotion of the chemical and surgical mutilation of children, causing over 40 major health systems around the country to drop the barbaric practice. The Trump Administration terminated federal support for “gender ideology” and “equity” curricula in America’s schools. President Trump ended the demeaning practice of forcing women and girls to compete against biological males in sports. President Trump removed harmful, discriminatory DEI programs from government, education, and the private sector.

Making America Healthy Again President Trump took on the processed-food complex, Big Pharma pricing, and the chronic disease crisis. The Trump Administration released new dietary guidelines that put whole, nutrient-dense food ahead of processed junk. President Trump has secured pledges from scores of major food manufacturers to strip artificial dyes and other synthetic chemicals out of the products Americans eat and drink. President Trump locked in Most Favored Nation pricing agreements covering about 90% of the branded drug market and launched TrumpRx to bring American drug prices in line with the rest of the developed world. President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, restoring nutritious milk to America’s schools.

Restoring Election Integrity and the Rule of Law President Trump is relentlessly focused on restoring Americans’ trust in their elections, courts after years of Democrat lawfare. President Trump exposed Chinese exploitation of American voter data, vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems, and hundreds of thousands of noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections. The Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump’s mail-in ballot order ahead of the 2026 elections. The Trump Administration has secured many historic Supreme Court victories, including rulings allowing President Trump to fire executive officials, turn away so-called “asylum seekers,” and rescind Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of migrants.

Under President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Republican leadership, the era of managed decline is over — and America is finally winning again. In under two years, President Trump sealed the border, made the streets safer, unleashed American energy, cut taxes for workers, restored the military, ended wars, and put America First.

Photos: INSIDE A Cold War Military Bunker!

We're on a grand tour of flyover country (including stops in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota) and we're loving it. And, yes -- we've visited Mount Rushmore which is truly breathtaking. But more on that later.

For now, we want to show you one of the most unusual (and newest!) tourist attractions out here and that is the decommissioned Delta missile site somewhere in the middle of what seems to be Nowhere, South Dakota.

From 1963 until the early 1990s, the missile silo at Delta-09 contained a fully operational Minuteman Missile, bearing a 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead. The Delta-09 missile silo was one of 150 spread across western South Dakota. In total there were 1,000 Minuteman missiles deployed from the 1960's into the early 1990's. Many of them were decommissioned after the signing of the START Treaty in 1991.

We visited both the missile silo and the larger launch control site. Control site tours are very limited, conducted by a National Park Service ranger and must be booked well in advance. The tour will take you into the control center where air force personnel were present 24/7. You'll pass through their living quarters and then down into the highly secure operations facility in a underground, sealed, concrete bunker. 

This is a taste of cold war military operations that you're unlikely to find almost anywhere else. And yes, as you can see, photos are permitted.

Check it out!

NJ: Please Lower Flags In Memory Of Graham

Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris, Passaic) called on Governor Mikie Sherrill to lower U.S. flags in New Jersey to half-staff in accordance with President Trump’s July 13 proclamation honoring the life and service of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away suddenly on July 11, 2026.

“Senator Lindsey Graham dedicated decades of his life in service of our nation, both in Washington and in the Air Force,” said Senator Pennacchio. “Our nation has long understood that when a public servant passes away after a lifetime of service to the American people, we come together and honor them with dignity and respect. New Jersey should not be the exception. Senator Graham may have represented South Carolina, but his oath of office was to the United States Constitution, both as a congressman and as a Veteran. I respectfully request that the Governor acknowledge the President’s directive and order all flags in New Jersey to be lowered out of respect to Senator Graham’s lifetime of service.”

Senator Graham served more than two decades in the United States Senate after being elected in 2002 and previously served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before his time in Congress, he served in the United States Air Force for 33 years, retiring with the rank of Colonel.

On The Death Of Senator Lindsey Graham . . .

From our friend Christine Flowers:

I only just now . . . had a chance to read some of the comments about Lindsey Graham. Many of them are kind, thoughtful, very appropriate to mark the passing of a combat veteran, a man who spent three decades in public service, a staunch ally of Israel and a genuinely blithe spirit and happy warrior.

But many more have been cruel, a shameful example of the degradation of our discourse. Interestingly, most of the cruelty comes from the same people who accuse Donald Trump of being arrogant, rude, insensitive, insulting and coarse. Hypocrites are often the last to recognize their own hypocrisy. But I am particularly upset at the veiled accusations that Senator Graham “might have been gay.” It’s used as an insult, which I would think no longer has a place in our society, especially among the “genocide-rainbow-transisgood-pro abortion” demographic that recoils at any suggestion that we are not “Free To Be, You And Me” ( gratuitous Marlo Thomas reference.)

They ignore the fact that he put his own life on hold to raise his little sister when their parents died. Imagine that sacrifice, in a very young man. Perhaps that’s the reason he had no wife. Nobody’s business.

Beyond that, it’s a cruel suggestion that single people have something wrong with them, that there must be some ulterior reason, a hidden shame or a congenital defect, that has left them facing life “alone.”

I am single, by choice. I am happy to live in a world filled with friends I love, family I cherish, pets I have and will yet mourn when they cross into eternity. I treasure my dinners alone, quiet moments with a book or a slice of cake, walks in the rain (sorry if this ironically sounds like a personal ad.) I am truly happy for those who have found what the Italians call their “anima gemella,” their twin spirit. I am wryly amused yet still happy for those who’ve done it over, and over…and over again.

But like Lindsey, I see my life through a single lens, crystal clear. And yes, I am straight even though I went to Bryn Mawr.

My point is that criticizing Lindsey for his politics is fine (I shared them almost 100%.) But mocking his choice to remain single is more of a commentary on the mediocrity of the heckler than it is about the great spirit of a glorious patriot. Who is home, now, with some friends who loved him.

H/T: facebook