11 Nov 2005 The Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month, 1918
November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in theForest of Compiegne, in Île-de-France by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending the four-year conflict of World War I. The War officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, but the actual fighting between the Allies and the Germans ended seven months earlier with an armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation.
“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 nation.”
According to the website Patriotism.org, after World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no association with World War I. The word, “armistice,” means simply a truce; therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday changed. The name was changed to Veterans’ Day by Act of Congress on May 24, 1954. In October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The President referred to the change of name to Veterans’ Day in honor of the servicemen of allAmerica’s wars.
As we celebrate the sacrifices of veterans of all ofAmerica’s wars, praising and thanking those who survived and remembering those who did not, we should ask God’s blessing and protection of those currently serving in our armed forces, especially those in harm’s way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and where terrorists plot.
Our greatest treasure as a nation – freedom – is bought daily through the sacrifices of our servicemen and women. We owe them our prayers, our support, and our unfailing gratitude.
Thank a Vet.
