I wish I could start today with news about Clay Aiken and his adventures in New York City, but the hints and comments seem to have dried up. Does that mean the taping is over? Well, that is something we just don’t know at this time. Hopefully we will get some news later today.
The last few weeks have certainly been fun. I haven’t seen such fun and excitement regarding Clay in a long time. Just think…we have all this in the future.
- Cyndi Lauper Concert – Home For The Holidays
- The National Inclusion Project Champions Gala with the unveiling of a new single!
- Christmas Radio Play – On Thursday, Clay had 31 spins at yes.com
- Single released some time in January…dare we hope for some promotion?
- Celebrity Apprentice will start in February and run for a few months…that means Clay on TV every week!!
Yes…it looks like a wonderful time for both Clay and his fans.
Everyone is all excited for 11-11-11. I wondered why so I did a bit of research.
- The date is so unusual because 11.11.11 is the only double-figure palindromic date. This date reads the same backwards and forwards.
- Some feel the number 11 has a mystical power.
- It certainly is a special day to get married or have a birthday, especially if it’s your 11th birthday.
- According to some “prophecy” web forums, this will be the end of the world!!
What we should be remembering is that 11-11 is Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is an annual holiday meant to honor individuals who have served in the armed forces. Originally, Veterans Day was named Armistice Day to commemorate the armistice reached on Nov. 11, 1918, that ended World War I.
The most famous of all Veterans Day observances is held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The observance is held at 11 a.m., the same time of the signing of the armistice to end World War I. The service includes two minutes of silence, and the president placing a wreath at the tomb. All Americans nationwide are encouraged to display the flag and recognize U.S. veterans with proper ceremony. Emporia, Kansas, the home of Alvin J. King, is home to one of the more famous Veterans Day ceremonies. On Oct. 31, 2003, Emporia was recognized by Congress as the “Founding City of the Veterans Day Holiday.”
I have often wanted to find the story behind the symbol of the poppy on Veterans Day.
It has been seen throughout history that after a major war red poppies seemed to pop up in the battlefields and on soldier’s graves. It seems that poppy seeds lay dormant in the soil and when the soil is heavily turned or dug up it causes them to sprout. The most detailed of this event took place in WWI in Flanders Field, Belgium. In the craters where bombs fell and on the mounds of rubble, poppies bloomed everywhere. The heavily churned earth and the high concentration of lime from the limestone buildings made the perfect catalyst for the poppies to grow.
So the next time you see someone with poppies for a donation…dig down deep and give with pride. Know you are saying thanks and helping a worthy cause…by supporting our vets and vets around the world.
Below, find the famous poem called ‘In Flanders Field’ written by Major John McCrae who was at Flanders Field, Belgium during WWI.
In Flanders Fields
By Major John McCrae
Canadian Officer
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.
The article about Veterans Day is exceptional – I remember as a child , the people on street
corners in town selling the poppies every year. I loved donating and wearing that poppie on my
coat.
Yes, we do have a lot of exciting things to look forward to with Clay – And everyone was so worried
a short time ago that he was leaving!!! I, am really excited to be going to the Gala for the first time!
It's going to be a good first time!!
Marlene…I will be there too. I hope we can meet!!
musicfan, thank you. As usual you have such an interesting blog. I had no idea what the poppy symbolized. Now I do. Thank you!
Was just thinking that if the Celebrity Apprentice taping was over, Clay would be on a plane to visit with his son the first thing.
Interesting about the poppies being a remembrance symbol for war veterans. I'm very thankful for all their sacrifices.
Love that radio play for Clay's Christmas songs is in full swing. Hopefully, next year many more of his songs will get radio play too.
Good luck to all on this 11-11-11 date. Phooey to the end of the world prophecy.
Yay for all the upcoming Clay appearances and events. They are quite a welcome bonanza for sure.
And lastly, thanks musicfan for the plethora of information today. your research is amazing.
GO CLAY GO!!!! This has been an amazingly fun few weeks – and the show hasn't even aired yet LOL!!!! Lots to look forward to, it's going to be a great first part of 2012 – and here's hoping that the last six months are just as exciting as the first six months!!
Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served – thank you for your service and your sacrifice. I'm going to include a thanks to those who keep the home fires burning – their love, commitment and sacrifice is to also be commended.
Yep, there is good stuff coming for Clay and all his fans! I love hearing his Christmas music and I hope the new single does even better. It would be wonderful to hear his regular stuff on the radio.
As far as CA it's just a theory but I think they are either finished shooting or probably doing more secret challenges now because the more people see them the easier it is to figure out who is gone and who is still there. Just look for who's no longer hanging with the gang.
Thanks for the wonderful message about the poppies and Veterans Day. Thank you to all the men and women who serve so bravely in the military and their families who also sacrifice so much.
Interesting read about the poppies… Thanks for all this information Musicfan.
Yes, it has been wonderful these last few weeks, of Clay sightings around NYC. Everyone is so excited and wondering how he is doing. I have no idea if the tapings are done for now, but Clay has done well….
Thank you to all the servicemen and women who have served and are serving in the military. As well as their families who have made the sacrafice as well. God Bless you all.
Beautiful post today. Thank you. I love the picture of the field of poppies.
I do wish we would hear more about Clay, but…..as you said, we will be getting a lot of Clay soon!!!
Musicfan – I want to take a moment to thank you for all the information you bring to us. Yes, the Clay news is the best, but the other information is good too. I have really learned so much!!