Veteran's Day, known the world over as Remembrance Day, is a day that is widely mistaken for a commemoration of the end of World War I. Today, in the United States, Veteran's Day is a day when all military service men and women are celebrated and recognized for their service to their land, country, and people. But there's more to this important and often misunderstood holiday than dutiful military service.
Armistice Day
Sometimes, important truths have a way of evaporating from history. A cursory Internet search shows that we are losing one of these truths right now. It was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November in 1918 when, as Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “[...] millions of human beings stopped butchering one another.” Those who remember it, and those who believe them say there was a silence on the battlefields that day- when those fighting men served each other food, instead of shooting each other- a silence that could only be described as the voice of God. Armistice Day is a legend now, but some consider it a sacred legend.
The History of Veteran's Day
England & the British Commonwealth
Veteran's Day is set aside to commemorate the official agreement between Allied and German forces to end hostilities on the Western Front. In England, it is celebrated with a ceremony at the Cenotaph in London and is organized by the British Royal Legion. In Canada, November 11th is a time to honor veterans slain in battle, as it is in England.
The United States
Here in the United States, we have added a thing of two to Veteran's Day. Rather than officially honoring fallen soldiers- we honor all veterans both living and dead on the 11th of November- for their service, rather than for dying honorably in war. We have no official public ceremony, but most people are given the day off work.
The official time to remember fallen soldiers has been relocated to Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Sunday each May. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and has its roots in commemorations of the American Civil War.
The rest of the World
In France, Serbia, and Belgium the holiday is still called Armistice Day. In Italy, it is referred to as Armistice of Villa Giusti. The Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway do not commemorate the end of WWI since they remained neutral during the conflict. These northern European nations do, however, hold Flagday as a time to remember the sacrifice of fallen soldiers in all armed conflicts.
What happened to Armistice Day?
It's a controversial point. However, those who hold the Armistice sacred will say that governments prefer citizens not be reminded that willfully refusing to slaughter the state appointed 'enemy' is an option. It's clear to see that the idea of peace, and the beauty of millions of soldiers spontaneously agreeing to a ceasefire, is totally absent from the present day story of Veteran's Day. We also know that the current form the holiday takes comes from a declaration by Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 1954 and that Congress struck the word 'Armistice' out of the name of the holiday in 1938, swapping it our for 'Veterans.'
It seems we are not meant to think of peace on November the 11th. We are meant to remember those who obediently pulled the triggers they were given- until they were killed. But, we urge you to consider that the peace which occurred on that day in 1918- and the soldiers who had the courage and the humanity to perform that peace- also deserve to be remembered.
Thank you to all the Veterans and Active Duty Military that continue to serve. Show your support with our veterans and military patches.
