Honoring Our Veterans

This Wednesday, November 11th, is Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada.

It all began at the end of World War I which is known at the time as “The Great War”. It officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

An Act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November a day dedicated to the cause of world peace. Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II by another Act of Congress the word “Armistice” was replaced with the word “Veterans.”

This is a day to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Please remember to thank a Veteran today.