Some people have asked me why Matt Goss and I teamed up to honor Veterans next week (http://prlog.org/11716637). Matt and I want to accomplish two things with this event. We want to raise an AWARENESS of the day and what it means (or should mean) to all Americans and the World. We also want to raise the CONSCIOUSNESS of the Veterans around us in everyday life.
We have noticed a decline in recognition and un-appreciation of the Veterans Day holiday and what it means. The reality is that we as a Country would not have Memorial Day or even Independence Day without Veterans Day. At a rate of 1000 WWII vets dying every day and only one WWI veteran left on this planet, and millions more who have served this country in our society every day, it is extremely important to give our country pause to recognize and be conscious of these people. It could be the cab driver, the clerk in a store or a homeless man on the street. This day is not just about one war, or the wounded or any particular group of veterans, but all veterans. Regardless if they served 3 years and never saw combat or served over 20 years and were in multiple wars.
This year marks a chance to truly develop an awareness of Veterans Day and what it means to not only this country but also the world. Veterans day, is November 11th. In fact this year is extra-special because the date would be 11/11/11. Veterans Day (originally Remembrance Day) is a special day remembered by countries all over the world, originally in recognition of the end of World War I. A lot of the background can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day including why the number ’11’ is so meaningful to it. Since Veteran’s day falls on a Friday this year I think it is perfect timing.
This day and the entire event could be symbolized by the Remembrance Poppy. The use of the poppy was inspired by the World War I poem In Flanders Fields. Its opening lines refer to the many poppies that were the first flowers to grow in the churned-up earth of soldiers’ graves in Flanders, a region of Europe that overlies parts of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae is popularly believed to have written it on 3 May 1915 after witnessing the death of his friend (a fellow soldier) the day before. More can be found here, to include its importance to countries around the world, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy.
In keeping with the Red Poppy, Matt and I are asking that all Americans on this day to wear one and encourage other people to do so. We feel it is the best way for people to visually show they have an AWARENESS of the day, its meaning and why we recognize it.
As you will see from the link it is observed by Great Britain, the USA and many other countries. How fitting to have an former American soldier like myself and a British-born Musician spearhead this great effort.
How can you help, you ask? I need your assistance in helping us get the word out. I ask you to blog about it, tweet it, FB it, reach out to any contacts you have in the media to see if they would do a story about this, reach out to anyone you think could make a difference, tell your family, friends, etc. If you know senior military leaders I ask that you please tell them about this too. This isn’t just about giving a great free night out to some veterans in Las Vegas. It is about getting American to stand up, wake up and take notice. If all they can do is wear a red-poppy on Veterans day, then they have done their part. Matt and I want this to become a movement.
Even if there is never another show like this, if millions of Americans join their Canadian and British counterparts every November 11th and wear a poppy and hug and/or thank a veteran then this has all been worth it and can change the way America thinks about its veterans.