) ( ( ) Good Morning Family! ( \ .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \* ) \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . .=|=. \| |// ...and we even have decaf, |~'~| | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! | | \ / _|___|_ ------ (_______) Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. A history of Veteran's Day 3. The Veteran TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire 4H family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Howell lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Howell ancestors or any of the 9 variant spellings we research that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. You have joined not just a list, but a family of cousins who are four teams of researchers combined into one family, the 4H. Although we are one family, we have two homesites and if you haven't visited these sites yet, you are encouraged to do so ~ Home for the HOWELL-L, HOWELLS-SOUTHERN-L, and HOWLE-L is the Howell Research Room (otherwise known as the HRR) which opened May 28th. You'll find it located at <http://geocities.com/howell_research>. While not large in size yet, this site is to become a clearinghouse dedicated to global research of the Howell[s] surname and all her variant spellings. You're invited to submit material for display at the HRR. Simply let me know you want to house material there and what it is. We can display anything, provided it doesn't involve living persons. Contact me at <[email protected]>. Home for the HOWELL-SURNAME-L is the Edward Howell Family Association site at <http://www.ehfa.org>. This is a site dedicated to descendants of Edward Howell of Southampton, Long Island, New York. There you'll find an online transcription of "Descendants of Edward Howell (1584-1655) of Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, [England], and Southampton, Long Island, New York," Second Edition by Dr. David Faris. Web mistress for the EHFA site is Kristen Howell <[email protected]>. A HISTORY OF VETERAN'S DAY Today is Veteran's Day here in the United States... In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America's veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day". Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later when, in May 1938, an official act was approved in which the eleventh of every November of every year would be proclaimed as Armistice Day. This day was meant to celebrate the virtues of peace and further pursue world peace as well as honor the veterans of World War I. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was "the War to end all Wars," November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. In 1954, however, after the United States had battled in the Korean War and World War II, President Eisenhower signed a bill which amended the resolution and changed the holiday's name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The eleventh day of November changed to honor not only the veterans of World War I and celebrate the end of that war, but to honor all of the veterans from all of the wars that had taken place. On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War. In 1973, a law passed providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but none was found for several years. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the others. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of four national holidays to fall on Monday. This change would give the people a longer holiday weekend which was intended to revitalize commerce. Veterans Day was to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of October. The first Veterans Day, after the bill was put into effect, was celebrated on October 25, 1971. However, only some of the states agreed with this change. Veteran's Day remained an October holiday until 1975 when President Gerald Ford signed a new law changing Veterans Day back to its original date of November 11th. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. Around the United States today, parades are held and flags are displayed, especially at the graves of soldiers. However, the focal point of Veteran's Day official ceremonies is held at the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the President laying a wreath at the base of the tomb. A bugler plays "taps." The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater. And in this way, every year Americans honor the commitment of our Veterans. THE VETERAN [a poem by Freda H. Babinski] Today I was reminded of what time could not erase As I walked through the halls I felt a sadness in this place A building filled with history our books will never see Their stories are the pages locked inside their memory It's one of many you will find that's scattered everywhere These people come here hoping to receive the proper care I saw a few in wheelchairs and so many used a cane Some walked just fine but in their eyes was where I saw the pain These Heroes have been marked for life all here surrounding me They've shed their blood while other's died to keep this country free I still remember stories of a war my dad went through Each one was told with Army Pride he called it "World War II" And later "The Korean War" forced troops to say good-bye Because Korea's North and South could not see eye to eye Then "Viet Nam" decided to raise up it's ugly head Like all the wars, the damage left so many people dead When troops came home they had to face another kind of war A "War of Words" that added wounds as if they needed more The latest war was televised for all the world to see Called "Operation Desert Storm" performed so perfectly This war had ended quickly but our troops cannot forget They're constantly reminded that the "Storm's" not over yet These wars do not discriminate religion, sex or race The bombs, grenades and poison gas take lives we can't replace And weapons don't have boundaries they claim what's in their way What will it take to stop these wars right here, right now, today Our troops are thought so highly of when they are called to war But when it's over they are not remembered anymore And what about the one's still lost are they forgotten too? Is anyone still searching for the one's who fought for you These men and women suffer more than you will ever know When war is over they still fight a war that doesn't show Each one deserves the very best for what they have been through Your proof is V. A. Hospitals I'm sure there's one near you We all want Peace and Harmony but something's always wrong These buildings might become extinct if we could get along My husband fought the last two wars which stole the heart he had He wears that look of war abuse just like my precious dad I don't have all the answers but I know one thing for sure The anger has to leave before a healing can occur America is free because of Veterans today And more of them still yet to come will also have to pay So when you exercise your rights remember Why you can You see, I can't forget because I am "The Veteran" Family ... it's what we're all about. Thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you. I hope your week ahead is filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love and inner peace. ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'