Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada and other countries. Find a vet today and give him a hug... or at least a thank you for his/her service to the nation.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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 and were 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 faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

We could do more than just a "thank you", but we have to demand action from our government.

Military folks are coming home and finding no job waiting for them. And the government isn’t helping.

Military deployment might mean you lose your kids. Support the troops, indeed!

Did you know that one in every four homeless man is a veteran? Public housing for homeless alcoholics costs less than letting them live in the streets. (via Metafilter)