Remembering veterans and those still serving

Many of you, like me, have family or friends who are veterans or current servicemen/women. Tomorrow across the state and country, we will remember those who have given their lives in service of their country and honor those who continue to serve.


This mid-week blog comes to you with a brief history about Veterans Day and ideas on how to celebrate.

History
World War I - On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, a temporary cessation of fighting between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. Officially, the war ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but "November 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars.'" According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "the original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m."

Parade
Travis County and the City of Austin's Veterans Day Parade will begin at 9 AM tomorrow (11/11/09), culminating with a memorial service at the State Capitol. Visit the City of Austin website for more info.

Flicks
My dad served in the Korean War, and he has told me countless stories of his time in the military. Growing up, I remember watching riveting war movies with him --not just on Veterans Day but just whenever. I have no idea what his favorite war movie is, but IMDB put together a list of the Top Rated! I'm kind of surprised how many movies on that list I've 1) actually watched and 2) really like!

Freebie food
Veterans and active duty military eat free tomorrow...at Applebee's. I tried to find local freebies, but the net wasn't as helpful. If you know of any freebies or special discounts, post 'em here!