Admiral Moon posted on November 01, 2011 00:20
November 2011 - Navy
By RADM Timothy D. Moon, USN (Ret)
November is a time of
remembrance and
thanksgiving. Just
look on the calendar
and see that we celebrate
Veterans Day and Thanksgiving
this month. On Veterans Day,
we remember and honor those
who have served, and in too
many cases, have given their
lives, to secure and ensure our
freedom. Thanksgiving, or
Thanksgiving Day as it is called
by many, is a joyous festival
celebrated with friends and
family to express thanks for the
many material and spiritual
blessings that we enjoy every day.
A little history...In 1918, on
the eleventh hour of the eleventh
day of the eleventh month,
a cease-fire or armistice agreement
was signed that brought
an end to World War I. Starting in 1919,
November 11th was set aside as Armistice
Day in the United States to remember the
many sacrifices made during World War I
by men and women to ensure a lasting
peace. In 1953, townspeople in Emporia,
Kansas, called the holiday Veterans Day in
gratitude to the many veterans in their
town. Beginning in 1954, the United States
designated November 11th as Veterans Day
to honor veterans of all U.S. wars. In 1971,
President Nixon declared November 11th a
national holiday. November 11th is also
celebrated as Remembrance Day or
Armistice Day in many parts of the world.
Several years ago I had the great fortune
to spend Veterans Day in London. Called
Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom,
it was a very memorable day for me. This
year, I will spend Veterans Day representing
you, the 18,000 members of AUSN, at
several Veterans Day celebrations and
ceremonies in our nation’s capital. This
year will be extra special as I plan to have
my parents accompany me to Arlington
and for Senior Chief Randall Moon, USN
(Ret), my father and a member of AUSN,
join me in laying the AUSN wreath at the
Tomb of the Unknowns.
On the topic of veterans, I
want to thank Captain Ike Puzon
and others in The Military
Coalition and the National
Military Veterans Alliance for
their collective efforts in pursuing
a change in legislation to
formally recognize as veterans
those Reserve Component
members who have served
20 years of honorable service,
but have not reached age 60.
Recently, the House of Representatives
passed H.R. 1025
introduced by Congressman
Walz, (D-MN) to amend Title
38, United States Code, to
recognize as veterans, those who
have retired with twenty or more
years of honorable service.
Senator Pryor (D-AR) has introduced
S. 491 in the Senate.
You are encouraged to use our
Contact Congress function on our website
to contact your Senators and Congressmen
to convey your support for this legislation.
Since I wrote my last article, Admiral
Jonathan Greenert relieved Admiral Gary
Roughead and assumed duties as the United
States Navy’s 30th Chief of Naval Operations.
On behalf of AUSN’s 18,000 members, I
want to thank Admiral Roughead for his
leadership, vision and guidance during a
magnificent 38-year career highlighted by
his last four years at the helm of the world’s
greatest Navy. We all wish him and his wife
Ellen fair winds, following seas and a safe
harbor as they sail into retirement together.
To Admiral Greenert, we wish you the best
as you navigate the Navy through the many
fiscal and operational challenges that lie
ahead.
Please join us at the AUSN sponsored
Navy Now Forum on November 17th in
Washington, DC, where Rear Admiral
Leigher will talk about information dominance
and cyber security in the U.S. Navy.
This is a must-attend event for interested
AUSN members and defense industry representatives
to hear where the Navy is heading
in the realm of information dominance and
cyber security. I hope to see you there.