[Three quotations today, which tie together around the holiday. I think they reinforce each other.]
"If I didn't learn anything else from war son I truly did learn how to love. I can walk into a forest and sit next to a tree and observe all of nature's wonders for I have seen Napalm burn the jungle. I can love a child's laugh because I have heard their screams. I can love the freedom you have today to go out into the world and choose what you want to do because when I was your age I was deprived of my freedom, my youth, and my innocence, while I was supposed to be making this a better world for you to live in. I do feel I have played a small part in making this a better world for you to live in, not because I have fought and killed but because I cried out in anger and told you the horror and reality of warfare. I pray to God that none of you ever have to rest your head on a pillow at night and try to sleep with the memories that the men carry with them that landed at Omaha beach, Inchon or the Ashau Valley. But I want you to realize that they are why you have the freedom to read this letter." -- xinloi at Daily Kos, 2013-11-06
"[...] the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations [...] the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples." -- from concurrent resolution of The United States Congress passed 1926-06-04
"There's commemorative cannon-fire outside my office right now, and I'm more disgusted than moved. Yet more artillery fire seems to me to miss what should be the point." -- Jacob T. Levy, 2009-11-11
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