Jack’s Winning Words 11/11/08
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” (Cynthia Ozick) I remember the time in grade school when the whole class would stand at attention on November 11, at 11 am, in honor of Armistice Day. The word, armistice, derives from the Latin and means a suspension of hostilities by agreement of opponents. A well deserved THANK YOU to our veterans today! ;-) Jack

FROM S.G. IN MI: This day is quite significant in history for many reasons---it is also the birthday of Gen. Patton (and a very nice neighbor friend of mine....) The flag is flying proudly at Pixley in Keego.

FROM B.C. IN F.H.: That's a nice one

FROM MOLINER LIZ: Thank you to all our veterans and their families for the many sacrifices they have made and continue to make on our behalf. God Bless America and the world. May there be peace.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Freedom isn't free and out vets have suffered so we could be free...even those against them. God bless the Veterans. JACK'S REPLY: I have a friend who fought for the Germans as a teen-ager in WW 2 and lost an eye in battle. "We kids just believed what we were told." After he and his family came to America, he joined my congregation in Illinois. He joined the choir. No one sang more loudly anf proudly (in a German accent), "America, America, God shed his grace on thee...."

FROM PR J.S. IN MI: I liked it better when it was Armistice Day. Then it stood for PEACE. We have militarized so many of our holidays so that now Nov. 11th stands for WAR. I think that is a mistake. The whole Reagan Era has been about war and might. I think and hope that Obama might return us to being leaders of peacefulness instead of being "bullies" as Desmond Tutu characterized us.

FROM MOLINER G.S.: But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for,Is their
monument to-day, and for aye.~Thomas Dunn English

FROM G.M. IN MI: Amen

FROM D.C. IN MI: I remember the Armistice Day storm in Minnesota. It was in 1940. ( I just looked it up to be sure.) I knew it was either in 1940 or 41 because it was before I started school. I was 4, and I can remember it clearly. We were without power for several days, but my mother could cook on the laundry stove in the basement, and the back porch could be the refrigerator. I know we had devotions around the dining room table using the Coleman lantern for light. My dad always had to shovel coal into the furnace and I know he said then that he was glad he didn't have "a stoker" like lots of the people had. My brother Dan made lots of money shoveling snow. I didn't see this, but remember hearing how tons of Thanksgiving turkeys froze to death near Willmar.(We lived in Hector, MN.) So if you want more info on this storm, look up 1940 MN Armistice Day Storm.

FROM M.N. IN MN: They still have Armistice Day Ceremonies for the whole town in Warren, Minnesota. And that is the way it should be!!!

FROM PR F.M. IN WI: Amen - I have the same memory - we had to face the east.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: I wanted to tell you about my little grandson's prayers tonight....
"Dear Jesus, Thank you for all the soldiers in history and chocolate."
What a wonderful prayer. Ya never know what's comin in his prayers.