By Steven Bucci

Our national holiday of Veterans Day did not start with that name.

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities on the Western Front ceased and World War I came to an end. That day became internationally known as Armistice Day.

But the name eventually changed in the United States, and there has been some controversy and confusion ever since.

Armistice Day was designed to help us remember the horrors of the First World War and to keep us from repeating the massive conflict. That was a nice thought, but clearly it did not do what was intended.

The “war to end all wars” did not do so, and after a period of relative peace, mingled with the Great Depression, the world was once again at war, this time on a scale that dwarfed World War I and really did encompass “the world.”

The Korean War followed on the heels of World War II before all the mobilized forces had been completely separated, and once again, U.S. troops were fighting to secure the freedom of others.

No one should ever discount the impact of WWI and the sacrifices of those who fought in that horrific war. The move to alter the focus of Armistice Day did not intend that at all.

In the 1950s, the people of Emporia, Kansas, recognized that America now had an entirely new group of young men and women who had sacrificed in two additional wars, and they wanted to honor and remember their sacrifices as well.

President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower agreed, and issued an executive order in 1954 to change the name of the holiday to Veterans Day. On Memorial Day, we remember the fallen. On Veterans Day, we remember all those who have served—living and dead.

Veterans Day does not celebrate war in any way. It …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

By Katrina Trinko

Veterans know what it means to sacrifice, and today, we honor them. John Cooper, an Air Force reserveman, joins us to discuss the importance of Veterans Day and how civilians can give back to our servicemen and women. He also shares about the veteran’s experience in the 21st century, when many Americans don’t know a single person in the military.

We also bring you a classic speech by President Ronald Reagan to honor those who have served.

The Daily Signal podcast is available on Ricochet, iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play, or Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You can also leave us a message at 202-608-6205 or write us at [email protected]. Enjoy the show!

The post The Daily Signal Podcast: What Veterans Have Sacrificed appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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From:: Daily Signal – Feed

By Rachel Greszler

Believe it or not, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 430 medical professionals who, instead of performing their duties as nurses or doctors, spend some or all of their time working for their federal employees unions.

All of that happens on the taxpayers’ dime.

Not anymore, according to the VA’s recent announcement.

As of Nov. 15, the VA will repudiate part of its master collective-bargaining agreement. In particular, it will eliminate all forms of taxpayer-funded “official time” for its roughly 104,000 Title 38 medical profession employees.

According to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, official time is that in which “an employee’s activities are not directed by the agency, but for which an employee is nevertheless entitled to compensation from the agency.”

In other words, official time refers to taxpayers paying federal employees to perform non-federal activities unrelated to the jobs they were hired to perform.

That means that hundreds of doctors and nurses at the VA receive their full federal salaries—averaging $74,000 a year for nurses and $187,000 for doctors, not including generous federal benefits—even if they don’t care for a single veteran.

As acting VA Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd said, “President [Donald] Trump has made it clear: VA employees should always put veterans first. And when we hire medical professionals to take care of veterans, that’s what they should do at all times. No excuses. No exceptions.”

Of course, that same argument should extend to the entire federal workforce. Federal employees should perform the duties they were hired to do—and nothing else.

While the administration does not have the power to prohibit official time for the rest of the federal workforce, or even all of the VA’s 380,000 employees, it can do so for the VA’s Title 38 medical professionals on the basis that official time negatively impacts patient …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

With the world reflecting on the Centennial of the Armistice which ended World War I, U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) participated in a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial to honor a fallen Texan who lost his life in “The Great War.”

Flores laid the wreath at the gravesite of Private Pete Reedy, who volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of the 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division during World War I. The motto of his regiment reads “Keep Moving!” Private Reedy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 11 December 1917, and died on 22 July 1918 at the age of 27.

“It was an honor to be a part of the centennial services in remembrance of the Armistice of World War I at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial. Over 1,500 Americans are memorialized here for paying the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and the world. I was humbled to have the opportunity to pay my respects to a fellow Texan, U.S. Marine Corps Private Pete Reedy. Visiting this memorial is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of all generations. We owe a debt of gratitude for the courageous and selfless actions of all our military men and women who defend our great nation,” Flores said.

Flores was joined at the ceremony by other members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional delegation was in Paris this past weekend participating in the 34th Annual Transatlantic Capital to Capital Exchange. Also participating in Saturday’s ceremony were former U.S. Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Connie Morella (R-MD). Camp serves as the Chairman of the Franklin Center and is the former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Morella serves as the Chairwoman Emeritus of the Franklin Center and is the former …read more

From:: Bill Flores – News Feed

By Molly Prince

Rep.-elect Dan Crenshaw of Texas appeared on “Saturday Night Live” to give a message of unity and connection this Veterans Day weekend.

Crenshaw, a retired lieutenant commander and now Republican congressman-elect for Texas’s 2nd Congressional District, was thrown into the spotlight the weekend prior to Election Day when “SNL” cast member Pete Davidson mocked him for the wounds he sustained while fighting for America.

“There are a lot of lessons to learn here, not just that the left and right can still agree on some things, but also this: Americans can forgive one another,” Crenshaw said on the NBC show. “We can remember what brings us together as a country and still see the good in each other.”

Crenshaw served five deployments overseas. On his third combat tour, during a mission in Afghanistan, he was hit by a blast from an improvised explosive device that destroyed his right eye and badly injured his left eye. After multiple surgeries, he retained sight in his left eye and went on to deploy two more times, first to the Middle East, then to South Korea.

“This is Veterans Day weekend, which means that it’s a good time for every American to connect with a veteran,” the former Navy SEAL said during his “SNL” appearance. “Maybe say, ‘Thanks for your service,’ but I would actually encourage you to say something else: Tell a veteran ‘never forget.’”

“When you say ‘never forget’ to a veteran, you are implying that as an American, you are in it with them, not separated by some imaginary barrier between civilians and veterans, but connected together as grateful fellow Americans,” he added. “We’ll never forget the sacrifices made by veterans …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

By Ken McIntyre

Editor’s note: Election Day brought some surprises, if not as many as either party anticipated. Here’s a sampling of our audience’s initial reactions to the midterm election results. Be sure to write us at [email protected]—Ken McIntyre

Dear Daily Signal: Take heart, my friends. Whether it was Democrats or Republicans, they were going to continue to do deficit-spending anyway (“7 of Pelosi’s Priorities as Democrats Take Back the House“).

But now, for the first time in our lifetimes, we have a conservative Supreme Court. This is big. They can cut off the House at the knees. The Supreme Court can declare Obamacare, Social Security, the FDA, and all sorts of other things unconstitutional–which they are.

This looks to be the most likely way to stop Congress from spending massive amounts of money they don’t have.—Joey Smith

***

Looking forward to a massive win by President Trump in 2020 and some real Republicans supporting him. We got rid of Paul Ryan. Now we need to purge a few more and elect people who will fully support Trump.—Sam Browne

***

It’s nice to know that the House Dems will be open and transparent as they try to raise taxes and start overspending again. They are going to screw us all.—Robert Zraick

***

I just don’t get why people gave the House back to the Democrats. They are not going to do one darn thing to help this country. I heard that perhaps some voters did it because they wanted less divisiveness. That’s a hoot. The Democrats are all about pitting us against each other.—Mary Larsen

“Democrats’ success Tuesday in retaking the House majority appeared to put Nancy Pelosi of California at the top of a short list for the speakership.”https://t.co/hpo3PKn1zS @DailySignal

— Jennifer Rush (@JennRush) November 7, 2018

The liberal courts essentially are passing legislation by saying …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

For the seventh consecutive year, U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) is recognizing local veterans for their service to our nation and community with a unique award – the TX-17 Congressional Veterans Commendation.

“On Veterans Day we honor those men and women who have served in our nation’s military. The 17th Congressional District is home to thousands of veterans, many of which have continued their service through their involvement in our communities. Today, I am privileged to announce that we are awarding 26 veterans with the TX-17 Congressional Veterans Commendation. The military service of this year’s receipts span over seven decades, from World War II to the current War on Terror,” Congressman Flores said.

Congressman Flores started awarding local veterans annually with the TX-17 Congressional Veteran Commendation in 2012 to coincide with Veterans Day. The veterans who receive this commendation are nominated by local constituents in recognition of both their military service and service to their respective communities. Recipients of the commendation receive a special commemorative challenge coin, a certificate of recognition and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor on Veterans Day.

“Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed much for our freedom and liberties and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their selfless service. I look forward to awarding these veterans with their well-deserved commendations and continuing this 17th District Veterans Day tradition,” Flores added.

2018 TX-17 Congressional Veterans Commendation recipients:

• Robert L. Beal, of College Station – U.S. Marine Corps, World War II and Korean War
• Clifton “Don” Beene, of Mexia – U.S. Army, Korean War. 1962-1999
• Olivia W. Burnside, of College Station – U.S. Marine Corps, 1974-1987
• Dr. Aaron Keith Buzzard, of Bryan – U.S. Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Leslie Wayne Davenport, of Rockdale …read more

  From:: Bill Flores – News Feed

By Troy Worden

When Jake Hill heard that an atheist activist group had sued to have a historic World War I memorial pulled down because some people were offended by the monument’s Christian symbolism, the Marine got angry.

“Americans of all faith backgrounds should be outraged,” Hill, a lance corporal in the Marine Corps, said.

Hill, of Madison, Wisconsin, was awarded the Silver Star during the Afghanistan War for his valor in leading his squad through enemy fire in 2010 to rescue a wounded fellow Marine. He also received a Purple Heart after being wounded in action during his service from 2008 to 2013.

But back home, another battle is brewing at the Supreme Court. Hill sees the latest effort to remove the 40-foot-tall Peace Cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, as one more step in a long war against religious liberty in America.

“Where will this end?” Hill, 28, asked in an email to The Daily Signal. “Will they begin chiseling the crosses and stars of David off gravestones in Arlington [National Cemetery] next?”

Another Marine Corps veteran told The Daily Signal that he would not find a broad Supreme Court ruling against religious-themed memorials appealing.

“I hope that in the future, a revisionist will not take such liberties with my generation’s legacy–or see such a harmless and sincere profession of faith and remembrance as an attack,” Matthew Collins, now a veterans advocate, said.

Collins, 43, a native of Falls Church, Virginia, joined the Marines in 1998 and retired with the rank of captain in 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Sierra Leone and served aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in the Middle East after the Sept. 11 attacks. …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

By Fred Lucas

President Donald Trump is scrutinizing the Florida election-recount process, and he isn’t the only one—largely because of Broward County.

On election night, it appeared likely that Rick Scott, the outgoing Florida Republican governor, had defeated Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for his seat. It appeared even more likely that Republican ex-Rep. Ron DeSantis defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, to be Florida’s next governor.

By Friday morning, both Nelson and Gillum were challenging the outcome.

Also still in question is the outcome of the race for the state agriculture commissioner, with the candidates separated by fewer than 500 votes as of Thursday night.

Automatic recounts are triggered under Florida law when the candidates are separated by less than 0.5 percent of the vote. The office of Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, a Republican, will review the returns on Saturday.

Scott’s Senate campaign and the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee sued both Broward and Palm Beach counties, seeking to make the counties’ vote-counting more transparent and ensure that each is following state election laws. Late Friday, a Florida court ruled in Scott’s favor in the Broward County case.

Broward and Palm Beach Counties have failed in their duty to follow Florida law, which requires that vote by mail and absentee ballots are accounted within 30 minutes of polls closing

— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) November 9, 2018

Nelson’s campaign sued the state Thursday to force a recount. Nelson’s lawyer, Marc Elias, a former attorney for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, called the Senate race a “jump ball.”

“We’re doing it to win,” he said.

Departing the White House on Friday morning en route to Paris, Trump said there “could be” a federal role for sorting out the electoral mess …read more

From:: Daily Signal – Feed

By Jarrett Stepman

CNN strikes again. Things got heated between CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta and President Donald Trump during a press conference this week.

After Trump answered Acosta’s question, Acosta kept at it, while Trump insisted they move on. Acosta then refused to give up the microphone to a White House intern. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Acosta will no longer have access to the White House.

The media’s rallying cry around the White House correspondent demonstrates a level of hypocrisy within the mainstream media. Where was CNN and other media outlets when the White House Correspondents’ Association pulled The Daily Signal’s access to pool reporting?

To get the latest in outrageous media bias, be sure to follow us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and send us your Media Misses to [email protected].

The post Media Misses: CNN vs. White House appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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From:: Daily Signal – Feed