

A Message
From The Webmaster
I could never
let a Veterans Day pass without taking the opportunity to extend a
personal message to each DESA veteran. I am honored to serve
as your webmaster and and priviledged to know you.
Your sacrifice,
courage and dedication to duty is remembered every day, but
especially today. You served our country in a time of turmoil
and crisis and because of you I live in freedom.
President
Franklin Roosevelt described you as the "pride of our Nation," who
struggled to preserve our civilization. "Pride of our Nation" and
"The Greatest Generation" are descriptions that could never be
mistaken as describing anyone but you.
You set a
standard for Naval service that is unmatched and continues to be an
inspiration to the men and women who wear the blue uniform today.
You can probably never fully realize your tremendous impact and the
level of respect felt for you.
May you remember
today your shipmates and how, together, you freed and brought peace
to other nations.
I ask for God's
blessings upon each of you and wish for you a very happy Veterans
Day.
Pat

"Before You Go"
Watch a special video
tribute to our aging veterans. Dedicated to veterans of WWII
and the Korean War who helped to preserve that victory. And,
a long overdue thank you to veterans of the Vietnam War.


click on the image for a larger view
suitable for printing
Use your Back button to return to this page
National Veterans Day
Events
The Veterans Day National
Ceremony will be held on November 11th at 11:00 a.m. EST at
Arlington National Cemetery. This is the national Veterans
day service with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. The ceremony takes place inside the Memorial
Amphitheater.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
November 11, 2009, 1 p.m. Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Dr.
NW, Washington, DC. Color guard, speakers and a wreath-laying
ceremony.
Vietnam Women's Memorial
November 11, 2009, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Constitution Avenue
and Henry Bacon Drive, NW Washington, DC. Vietnam-era veterans and
the children of veterans tell stories "in their own voices" about
their experiences.
World War II Memorial
November 11, 2009, 8 a.m. 17th Street, between Constitution and
Independence Avenues, NW Washington, DC. Wreath laying
ceremony.
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
Korean War Memorial
Please check the website for scheduled events
http://www.nps.gov/kowa/index.htm
Navy Memorial
November 11, 2009. 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 12:00
Noon - Book Signing and Q&A with David Sears, author of At War With
The Wind. In the last days of World War II, a new and unknown
weapon terrorized the United States Navy sailors in the Pacific
Ocean - kamikaze. 1 p.m.- Naval District Washington Commemorative
Wreathlaying, 1:30p.m. - Screening of "Pappy Boyington Field,"
followed by Q&A with director Kevin Gonzalez. During World War II,
Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington led a squadron of Marine Corps
fighter pilots known as the legendary "Black Sheep" of VMF-214. The
movie details the controversial campaign Veterans groups initiated
to add his name to an Idaho airport near his hometown for his
courageous leadership.

Patriotic Tunes
Listen To Sounds and Music
Navy Hymn (midi format)
Morning Colors (wav format
Evening Colors (wav format)
Reveille (wav format)
The National Anthem I (midi format)
The National Anthem II (wav
format)
Archors Aweigh I (wav format)
Anchors Aweigh II (midi format)
God Bless America (midi format)
Stars and Stripes Forever (midi format)
Patriotic Medley (midi format)
Liberty Bell March (midi format)
America The Beautiful (midi format)
God Bless The U.S.A (wav
format)
Lee Greenwood
For the best in patriotic music, visit this
website

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 30, 2009
VETERANS DAY, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States
of America. From the Minutemen who stood watch over Lexington and Concord to
the service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American veterans
deserve our deepest appreciation and respect. Our Nation's servicemen and
women are our best and brightest, enlisting in times of peace and war,
serving with honor under the most difficult circumstances, and making
sacrifices that many of us cannot begin to imagine. Today, we reflect upon
the invaluable contributions of our country's veterans and reaffirm our
commitment to provide them and their families with the essential support
they were promised and have earned.
Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking them for their
service. It is an obligation to our fellow citizens who have risked their
lives to defend our freedom. This selflessness binds our fates with theirs,
and recognizing those who were willing to give their last full measure of
devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.
We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform and continue to serve
their country as civilians. Many veterans act as coaches, teachers, and
mentors in their communities, selflessly volunteering their time and
expertise. They visit schools to tell our Nation's students of their
experiences and help counsel our troops returning from the theater of war.
These men and women possess an unwavering belief in the idea of America: no
matter where you come from, what you look like, or who your parents are,
this is a place where anything is possible. Our veterans continue to stand
up for those timeless American ideals of liberty, self-determination, and
equal opportunity.
On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and we rededicate
ourselves to the next generation of veterans by supporting our Soldiers,
Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as they return home from duty.
Our grateful Nation must keep our solemn promises to these brave men and
women and their families. They have given their unwavering devotion to the
American people, and we must keep our covenant with them.
With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our servicemen and
women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the
Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall
be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America,
do hereby proclaim November 11, 2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all
Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through
appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal,
State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to
participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all
Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship,
schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions
and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
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