My heartfelt thanks go out to all the men and women in the armed services; their dedication and sacrifice have kept this great country free and relatively safe. Also, happy birthday today to the Marine Corp. on its 230th anniversary.
(and maybe donate money to the Salvation Army, too? I'm not sure if this is being done yet as folks with boxes usually come around Christmas time).
The Salvation Army is not associated with Veterans, but is rather a christian organization headquartered in the U.K. They do a lot of good work around the world, but I refuse to donate to 'em due to their anti-gay rhetoric.
Really? I thought that the Salvation Army was just an organization for giving donated items to the poor around the world, and not one associated with religion or situated in the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, they're good to provide their services, too 
.
Up here we call it Remembrance Day, but it's the same thing. This is the day where we remember and honour the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.
In Canada we wear poppies in November in remembrance of our verterans. I think Britain does the same now as well.
A Canadian medical officer during WWI noticed how dense the poppy growth over the graves in Flanders, France. He wrote a poem about it during the war. The poem talks about Flanders fields, but it is really about the universal fear of forgetting the dead. The poppy is a symbol of rememberance so we'll never forget.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.- John McCrae
Also this year, Britain and Canada held a joint ceremony to commemorate the 68,000 Canadian troops that died during WWI. All the soldiers names were projected on a vigil at Canada House in Britain.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/10/29/memorial-art.html
