Next Tuesday November 11, 2003 is fifty of Veterans Days. Of course this is always just another day for businesses to have sales.

...or for Corporate America to work.

I know what you guys mean. In many places, it will just be another day. I remember after I got out of the Army and went to college, the college had classes on Veterans Day, but took MLK Day off. I always wore my "colors" to class to show my displeasure at the State Regents disrespect to those who risked -- or gave -- all to protect our freedoms and way of life. I'm all for civil rights, but it always peeved me how they could ignore those who preserve and protect those rights.

In other places, Veterans Day is still a big deal. If anyone is near Leavenworth, Kansas, on Tuesday, swing into downtown about 9 a.m. and hang around for the parade. Gen. William "Scott" Wallace, who commanded V Corps in OIF is the parade grand marshal. All units from Fort Leavenworth will have marching units, as well as every other uniformed group in the area -- Scouts, JROTC, police, firfighters, VFW, American Legion, etc. Afterward, there is a big public get-together at the VFW post for the returning National Guard 35th Infantry Division, just back from Bosnia.

Got this today in the e-mail; thought I'd share:


It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
-Author unknown