Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thursday Garden Visit-Veteran's Day

Hello friends! Today we celebrate Veteran's Day in the US. In our family, however, we think of November 11th as Armistice Day. On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month in 1918 an armistice was signed that ended World War I. 

We are facing East and staying quiet for two minutes in honor of Armistice Day.

Our Mom's Grandfather fought with the US Army in France during WWI. That is where he met his future wife
 (Mom's Grandmother) Emelda Niquet. 
When the war ended, Grandmother traveled by troop ship to the United States to start a new life. She left Paris, France for Terre Haute, Indiana. We have always thought that must have been quite a culture shock for her! It was our French Grandmother who taught our Mom that on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we face the East and observe two minutes of silence to honor those killed in the Great War.


Our French Grandmother. She was fluent in five languages!

We know our friends in the UK call this day Remembrance Day. Red Poppies are worn as a symbol of remembrance of the soldiers who died in battle. This came about after a poem was written by a Canadian doctor in 1915, who was so deeply affected by the death and destruction he witnessed in Flanders, Belgium. 


We have a photo of the last poppy from our garden this year. We post this in remembrance of all of the brave men and women who have been lost in wars throughout this world. 

Have a peaceful day friends, and be grateful for the people who have fought to defend our freedom.

xoxo, Raymond and Busby


22 comments:

  1. Wonderfull cats and siamois.
    Greeting from Belgium, Louisette with two golden and one cat blue chartreux:Scratchy
    http://blog.seniorennet.be/louisette/
    page links golden , cattery chartreux+ my blogs
    http://retrieverhond.eigenstart.nl/

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  2. Great tribute, guys! And I loved learning about your French grandmother. She sounds like quite a special lady.

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  3. We love yoor tribute ~ and we remember too.

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  4. That was a very lovely post you wrote! Happy Veterans day to you.

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  5. Beautiful post! We will be remembering today too.

    The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

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  6. What a nice thing to share.

    "We cherish too, the Poppy red
    That grows on fields where valor led,
    It seems to signal to the skies
    That blood of heroes never dies"
    ~Moina Michael

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  7. Wonderful post! It's Remembrance Day in Canada too, of course, and we also wear poppies and observe two minutes of silence at 11AM.

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  8. This was a really special post Raymond and Busby...and we are amazed at how you worked together to face east and stay quiet for 2 whole minutes!

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  9. You boys sure have a beautiful post today! We will remember and thank all of them as well.

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  10. Wonderful post boys! We join with you to remember...

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  11. Your tribute is wonderful! We call it Remembrance Day in Canada too.

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  12. What a great post today to celebrate Veterans Day or Armistice Day or Rememberance Day!!

    We are purring for all the veterans and thank them for everything they have done to protect our freedom!

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  13. That was a wonderful, wonderful tribute to veterans everywhere!

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  14. Wonderful post today...thank you for reminding us all to remember those who fought to give us our freedom.

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  15. A good tribute, boys. So sweet of you to be silent for 2 minutes, side by side too. The French Grandmother was a special lady.

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  16. Lovely tribute. Your French Grandmere must have been very smart to know all those language.

    We have a give away on our blog today. Come enter if you have time.

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  17. What a pawsome post to observe Remembrance Day!!!!
    It is also nice to see a poppy in your garden in bloom :o
    Your Gran must have been an amazing woman :)


    Purrs Mickey, Georgia & Tillie

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  18. Lovely tribute! Such poignant words from what must have been a particularly hellish, brutal war. Thank you for sharing.

    xoxo
    Ms. Stella O'Houligan

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  19. What a lovely tribute.
    This was just beautiful we are so glad you shared this with us.
    Our respect and admiration for all of those who serve.

    purrin
    xoxo
    Abby

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  20. what a poignant tribute--that's one of our mom's favorit pomes, even thought it makes her face leak. fank you fur sharing yer story about yer grampa an' yer french gramma. we finks they musta had a furry special bond.

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  21. A really nice tribute my friends, and you look so comfy on your chair!

    Thank you again for visiting and leaving kind words for Inigo, we're so grateful.

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  22. This was wonderful! It brought home just how close war is to all of us.

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