I think you're right, Eliz, on that being the cause. To my mind the signifigance of many important events is lost by turning them into meaningless Monday holidays. In this vein, why not celebrate all birthdays on the 1st Mon. of each month and anniversaries on the last? Not much different than lumping several Presidents together and giving them the same birthday! Why can't these people and these momentous events have their own special time. The following is the poem written by a soldier that WAS in Flander's field....read it and disagree that it deserves it's moment of silence. S. In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived felt dawn saw sunset glow Loved, we're loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch:be yours to hold it high If ye break the faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields. by John McCrea > "It lasted into the 1970's when Veterans Day became the Monday always holiday and quite suddenly the minute of silence seems to have gone away. "