“The History of Veterans Day and What it Means to Me” — Patrick Hall is the current President of the Pacifica Club, he is also Past President of that club, 2004. Patrick was an Air Force pilot during the Viet Nam war and is an attorney. 

In 1919 Armistice Day was established the 11th hour on the 11th day in the 11th month, it was a State and Federal holiday. It was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. In 1968 it was changed to the 4th Monday in November. President Ford changed it back to November 11. France, Britain and Canada have similar holidays. 

Regarding the significance of the red poppies, The Flower of Remembrance:  “In Flanders Fields” was the poem written by World War I Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery. It expressed McCrae's grief over the "row on row" of graves of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields, located in a region of western Belgium and northern France. The poem presented a striking image of the bright red flowers blooming among the rows of white crosses and became a rallying cry to all who fought in the First World War. 

Patrick graduated from Santa Clara where ROTC was mandatory. Upon graduation, he volunteered for the Air Force and went in as a Second Lieutenant in 1969. Prior to joining up, he had an epiphany while at a concert—realizing that his friend was engaged in battle at that time. As a result, he volunteered for pilot training, a one year course which included a four commitment. He considered making a career out of the military and remained in for six years. He flew refueling planes and did three 90 day tours in Southeast Asia. He also flew DC3s to carry intel officers for a year in Viet Nam. He met his wife, Marilyn, when he got back—she is from Belgium. Patrick is proud that our country reconciles with former enemies.