Happy Veterans Day, everyone!

I am so proud that I had the opportunity to serve my country, and even more proud that I come from a long line of veterans, including both of my parents.

In honor of Veterans Day I thought I would share some cool tidbits about this holiday.

Pop Quiz:  What is the traditional meal served on Veterans Day?

Any Guesses?

Ravioli!

Sounds strange doesn’t it?

The tradition started after WWI, when President Wilson and his chefs at the White House cooked and served Ravioli for a couple hundred soldiers returning home.

A very touching Veterans Day tradition is wearing a poppy on your lapel.  The poppy is associated with this day because of a poem written by John McCrae in 1915 called In Flanders Field.

In Flanders Field
By John McCrae

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.

To all the men and women who have taken up the torch from our brothers and sisters in arms who came before, I salute you.

Kiss a veteran today!