Veterans Day and the Somme

Today, if you didn't know is the first veterans day. This year it marks the 90th anniversary of the Somme battle and the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. In contrast to Remembrance Sunday this is not apparently about the dead but veterans in general.
I'm all for respecting the sacrifices made by our ancestors but this has a distinctly American feel to it. Still who can not be moved by what happened on the Somme?
Oldest veteran remembers the Somme
Imperial War Museum website on the Somme
Read an article on the authentication of footage long thought to be staged
Irish stamp first to honour the Somme
German perspective
Coincidentally I'd just done the above post and switched on the BBC news and there was a feature on the Somme Commemoration march - organised by the National Army Museum it involves about 50 Great War reenactors 'not about playing soldiers, more a personal tribute' was one of the opening comments. BBC News will be following the march throughout the week.
'Neil and his fellow re-enactors are being encouraged to experience as much as they can of life as a "Tommy". They will dress in period uniform and eat standard rations. They will even wash their clothes in buckets and hang them out using period clothes pegs.
Members of the public can join the march or send Great War style letters or appropriate presents to the troops from home. These will be distributed and those that receive a message from "home" will write back.
There will be some concessions to modern living - portable toilets and showers, for one, and tents and other heavy equipment will be moved by 21st century vans. Neil will be allowed a mobile phone so he can let us know how he's coping with life as a Great War soldier.
The march ends on Friday 30 June and the following day there will be a memorial service at Thiepval attended by Prince Charles. '
BBC NEWS feature
Walking in my grandfather's footsteps Also on this page watch video footage of ww1 reenactors