Veteran's Day

from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...

"World War I - known as "The Great War" - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars'."*

President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 proclaimed November 11, "Armistice Day". Followed by World War II, an even more destructive and world encompassing war, and the Korean war, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the approval of Congress changed "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day".

I admit being a little jealous of some of my friends whose genealogies I have done. How cool to be able to join the Daughters of the American Revolution because your family had a part in the founding of our country? I always tell people that I am not a member of the DAR but am pretty proud to be a member of the Daughters of Ellis Island!

World War I "the Great War To End All Wars"marks the first conflict/war our immigrant family was called upon to prove their loyalty to their new home, and we did, proudly.

my granduncle: Andrew Olof Soderstrom

U.S. Cavalry

The following members of my family also proudly served when they were called.

my uncle: Howard W. Johnson

U.S. Army

my father: Melvin C. Kallman

U.S. Army

my father's cousin: Harry R. Soderstrom

U.S. Air Force

my father's cousin's husband: William H. Liljegren - U.S. Navy

(no photo)

my uncle: Arnold C. Sevald
U.S. Navy

my father's cousin: Gustave Arthur Jacobson - U.S. Army

(no photo)

my second cousin: Paul Emil Jacobson Jr.

U.S. Marines

my cousin's son: Carl Bogar Jr. 

U.S. Marines

my nephew: Timothy A. Twardowski

U.S. Marines

 A day begun to honor those who had served in "The war to end all wars". A much more simple and optimistic time wasn't it?  The world is still and maybe will always be a pretty dangerous place and as the saying goes, "freedom isn't free". We honor today all those men and women who protect our freedoms. We need to speak up and let them know their service was necessary and truly appreciated. Our American family and all Americans on this Veteran's Day and every day owe them a great big

THANK YOU 

(clicking on photos will enlarge them for easier viewing. Right click on photo to save to your computer)

* US Department of Veterans Affairs → THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY