Mark Stoller moved to Falcon in 2007.†He and his wife, Andra, both U.S. Air Force veterans, enjoy life with their daughters, extended family and adopted rescue dogs in Latigo. Mark savors the privilege of his wife and daughters being his muse for topics, people to meet and places to investigate.
We find ourselves in November already; and, as I like to say, the headlong sprint into the end of the year. Thereís a lot going on in November ó Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, kicking off the frenzy of Christmas shopping and decorating.Veterans Day is a time for Americans to be grateful and pay our respects to those who have served. The day gives universal recognition to the celebrated end of World War I combat at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month).The presidential decree for the national holiday was first issued on Nov. 11, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson to commemorate Armistice Day and then the name changed to Veterans Day by proclamation of President Eisenhower in 1954.From the National Today website, some interesting facts related to Veterans Day: 1) As of 2018, 18.2 million veterans who are still alive served in at least one war. 2) Of all veterans in the U.S., 9% are women. 3) As of 2019, the states with the highest percentage of veterans were Alaska, Wyoming and Virginia. 4) Out of 16 million Americans who participated in World War II, 325,000 were still alive in 2020. 5) Two million veterans served during the Korean War.Our Falcon community is full of active duty and veterans. You wonít have to go too far before you spot a veteran. You can tell by the way they carry themselves, men usually have the awesome beard they could never grow on active duty, and they might be wearing a patriotic T-shirt or a hat with unit patches.There are two things to remember on Veterans Day. First, is to thank those who are alive for their service (Memorial Day is for those who have passed). Second, in my opinion, the most important: Extend your gratitude to the family of the veteran because they have sacrificed just as much and most times more than the one who wore the uniform. For such a divided country in which we live, we can stand united for one day in respect for our veterans.This monthís second occasion to be grateful is Thanksgiving. Our celebration is modeled after the initial harvest feast of 1621 shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. As the years passed and our country became more urban, opportunity drew family members to far-away cities. Thanksgiving became a time to travel and gather as a family again. The holiday evolved further as America grew in population size and moved away from its religious roots to allow immigrants of every background to participate in a common tradition.Thanksgiving Day football games began in 1876, with the archrival matchup between Yale and Princeton to add some rowdiness to the holiday. The final tradition, the annual Macyís parade in New York City, began in 1924, with the signature huge balloons making their debut in 1927.As noted in the Encyclopedia Britanica, ìThe holiday associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans has come to symbolize intercultural peace, Americaís opportunity for newcomers and the sanctity of home and family.îLastly, before we leap into the hectic grab for discounted goods on Black Friday, we should walk around and look at the people and items in our life. Humbly acknowledge the relationships and possessions that fulfill and make your life meaningful. In the words of Germany Kent, ìItís a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.î
