This year, Veterans Day will be celebrated on Saturday, November 11. The holiday is always celebrated on the same date unless it falls on a Sunday, in which case it is celebrated on Monday, November 12. Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year celebrations will vary from the norm. Some businesses will celebrate it of Friday in lieu and/or in addition to Saturday. This is a day on which we celebrate our living veterans as opposed to Memorial Day, which is reserved for those who gave their lives for our country.
Most government entities, such as the DMV and local libraries are closed today, Friday, November 10. Some will be closed on Saturday, November 11 as well. The US Postal Service will be open on Friday but closed on Saturday. Banks will be open on Friday but closed on Saturday. Financial markets will be open. Most retailers and other businesses will be open both days. Schools are closed on Friday, Traditionally, many restaurants and golf courses offer discounts for veterans.
Many cities will hold parades. Who doesn’t love a parade? The largest parade will be in NYC (where else?), which will be returning for its 104th year. Some 20,000 participants and 400,000 spectators are expected.
Many of you have requested a quiz. So, here it is, and in honor of Veterans Day it has a military theme. Good luck and no peeking at the internet. No consulting “Alexa” or “Siri.”
1. Who was the US president during the first war against the Barbary Pirates? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d James Monroe
2. The WWI battle that inspired the poem “In Flanders Field” took place in (a) Ardennes, (b) Charleroi, (c) Gallipoli, (d) Ypres
3. Each of the following presidents had been renowned generals, EXCEPT: a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Andrew Jackson, (c) Zachary Taylor, (d) Franklyn Pierce
4. “Pickett’s Charge” was the turning point of what Civil War battle? (a) Bull Run, (b) Manassas, (c) Gettysburg, (d) Fredericksburg
5. The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” refers to which Revolutionary War battle? (a) Boston, (b) Lexington, (c) Concord, (d) NY
6. Tripoli, the stronghold of the Barbary Pirates, was located in what present-day country? (a) Libya, (b) Algeria, (c) Tunisia, (d)Egypt
7. The Alamo is located in which city? (a) Houston, (b) San Antonio, (c) Austin, (d) Galveston
8. The US fought the Gulf War against (a) Iran, (b) Syria, (c) Kuwait, (d) Iraq
9. Who said “Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead.” (a) David Farragut, (b) John Paul Jones, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Jonathan Eli
10. Which war resulted in the highest number of casualties? (a) WWI, (b) WWII, (c) Korean War, (d) Civil War
11. Fort Sumter is located in which state? (a) North Carolina, (b) South Carolina, (c) Georgia, (d) Alabama
12. Custer’s Last Stand took place in which modern-day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Idaho
13. Each of the following was a WWII battle in the Pacific theatre, EXCEPT (a) El Alamein, (b) Guadalcanal, (c) Okinawa, (d) Midway
14. Who was the US President during WWI? (a) Teddy Roosevelt, (b) Woodrow Wilson, (c) William Howard Taft, (d) Warren Harding
15. When General Douglas MacArthur said “I shall return,” to which country was he referring? (a) Australia, (b) New Guinea, (c) Guam, (d) Philippines
16. The Korean War began in (1) 1949, (b) 1950, (c) 1951, (d) 1952
17. Who was president during the Spanish-American War? (a) Grover Cleveland, (b) James Garfield, (c) Rutherford B. Hayes, (d) William McKinley
18. Where is Mt. Suribachi? (a) Iwo Jima, (b) Okinawa, (c) Tarawa, (d) Japan
19. Where is Vicksburg? (a) Alabama, (b) Louisiana, (c) Missouri, (d) Mississippi
20. When was the Veterans Administration founded? (a) 1870, (b) 1930, (c) 1950, (d) 1972
21. Which of the following was NOT a landing site on D-Day? (a) Silver, (b) Omaha, (c) Juno, (d) Sword.
22. Which British general surrendered at Yorktown ending the Revolutionary War? (a) Howe, (b) Clinton, (c) Cornwallis, (d) Burgoyne.
23. Each of the following cities was the site of fighting in the Iraq War battle EXCEPT: (a) Mosul, (b) Fallujah, Baghdad, (d) Kamaleshwar.
24. Approximately, how many veterans are there living in the US? (a) 9.5 million, (b) 12.5 million, (c) 16.5 million, (d) 19.5 million?
25. Who was president during the War of 1812? (a) Thomas Jefferson, (b) John Adams, (c) James Monroe, (d) James Madison
ANSWERS: 1. c; 2. d; 3. a; 4. c; 5. c; 6. a; 7. b; 8. d; 9. a; 10. d; (more than all the other wars combined. 11. b; 12. c; 13. a; 14. b; 15. d; 16. b; 17. d. 18. a; 19. d; 20. b.; 21. a; 22. c; 23. d; 24. c; 25. d.
Well, there you have it. Tell me how you did, well or (as my grandson used to say) “not so good.”
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 