It is a great honor to wish all Veterans and their families a HAPPY VETERANS DAY! From our Veteran family to yours we have some fun and informative stuff in this blog for you!
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- A high-level view of the history of Veterans Day
- What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
- Seven John Maxwell leadership tips for times of crisis
- Resource links – including a link for Veterans Day discounts honoring our Vets
- Last but not least the video of our original song “Freedoms Not Free”
Veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. We at LeBaker Music challenge everyone to show them love and support. That can range from something as simple as a shout out on social media or a thank you card. Some of them are dealing with mental trauma and physical disability that progress with age. They need help just like we all do when we go through traumatic and life altering situations. It is never to late to reach out!
Royal Connections
To understand how Veterans Day transpired we need to back up and briefly revisit the history of our world. The role European royalty plays in the turn-of-events leading to World War I (WWI) is astounding. In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, ignited the smoldering spark of tension between European nations. Political instability erupted like a volcano about to explode. As a result, alliances solidified creating the “Allied Powers” and the “Central Powers.”
Notably one of the tragic aspects of this political outburst is the majority of the European rulers including the wife of the Archduke were all the offspring of Queen Victoria, so they were cousins of some degree. Furthermore, prior to the outbreak of WWI, Queen Victoria’s grandchildren served as (or had married) the kings and emperors of the German, Greek, Norwegian, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Spanish and United Kingdom governments.
World War I
To provide perspective the Allied Powers included the countries: Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States. The “Central Powers” included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. Russia supported Serbia and it was a Serbian that murdered the Archduke and his wife. World War I began on July, 28, 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. It was a terrible, undiscriminating war taking the lives of 16 million soldiers and citizens abroad. In addition, the war lasted more than three-years.
The fighting roared and both sides dug long, deep, ditches called “trenches.” In the horrors of trenches soldiers fought and lived for weeks. Lack of sleep, infectious disease and the constant exposure to moisture caused “trench foot.” Many soldiers fought enduring the pain of “trench foot” as dead tissue spread across their feet while loud munitions continuously exploded. It’s no wonder the soldiers that survived the brutality of WWI returned to their homes “shell-shock.” We now refer to “shell-shock” as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
History of Veterans Day
At the eleventh hour on November 11, 1918, the guns, cannons and fighting of WWI stopped. The Germans entered into “armistice.” November 11th initially became “Armistice day.” Armistice is a formal agreement for waring parties to enter as a cease fire while negotiating peace.
As a side note, one interesting turn of events was the downfall of the Ottoman Empire due to their alignment with Germany. Because of the British victory in the battle of Beersheba, Britain gained possession of “Palestine.” Palestine, which included the Holy Land is the “State of Israel,” today. But that is a blog for another time.
Armistice Day was first celebrated in November of 1920. On June 4, 1926, the U.S Congress officially passed a resolution that yearly, November 11th be observed as “Armistice Day,” by Presidential proclamation. On May 13, 1938, by Congressional act, Armistice Day was declaimed a Federal Holiday.”
As we all are well aware WWI, nicknamed “the war to end all wars” by President Wilson was not the last war. The outcome of WWI, the “Treaty of Versailles,” became a major catalyst leading to World War II. By 1954, America found itself reeling from the stalemate of the Korean War and plunging into the Cold War. The Veterans of the later wars and conflicts lobbied to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day in honor and memory of all Veterans. Congress approved and President Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. It is reported that the last surviving Veteran of the Civil War, a Union Army drummer-boy, Albert Woolson, who was 104-years old, celebrated along with Veterans of the Spanish-American War, and the Philippines War during this historical occasion.
Random Interesting Fact
The last American Veteran of World War I, Frank Woodruff Buckles died on February 27, 2018 at the age of 110. Frank was a leading advocate for creating the Washington D.C. World War I memorial monument.
Difference Between Memorial And Veterans Day
What are the major differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. It’s fairly simple, Veterans Day honors those living who served our country. Memorial Day honors those who sacrificed their lives for our country. You can celebrate Veterans Day by tagging a family member that has served in the military on social media or give them a call. You can celebrate Memorial Day by attending a memorial service at a National Cemetery, and/or observe at 3pm, on that Monday the National Moment of Remembrance.
Leadership Tips for Times of Crisis
What can we learn from the events of World War I. As a John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer and Coach, reflecting on the history in this blog drives home the point King Solomon made that there is nothing new under the sun. Just as it is in war, it is in business. Leaders rise because they choose to reflect instead of react. In war the wrong reaction will cost lives, in business the wrong reaction will cost money. When leaders are in crisis or the crisis is swirling around them here are seven questions John recommends from his teaching ‘How to Turn Adversity into Advantage.”
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- What happened to me today?
- Did I learn anything about myself today?
- I need to hear myself say _____________.
- What must I do in this crisis?
- Can I use a crisis to become more relatable to others, explain how?
- How can being relatable to others be of benefit in times of crisis?
- What are the action steps I can take from the answers to these questions?
Freedoms Not Free
In conclusion, enjoy this original Patriotic song written, produced and recorded by “The Judith” and provided courtesy of LeBaker Music.
Resources
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