11th November is marked as Veterans Day on many calendars and is a day set aside to remember those who have given their lives for their country in conflicts around the world.
While in recent times there have been differences of opinion about many of the wars and conflicts that have taken place, the bravery of those who are willing to travel to foreign lands, leaving families and friends behind, placing their lives in extreme risk cannot be underestimated.
The origins of Veterans day lie in Armistice Day, proclaimed by Woodrow Wilson in 1919 as a way of expressing gratitude for the heroism and bravery of servicemen and women who ensured the world remained free from the tyranny of the invading German army. Calving Coolidge confirmed Armistice Day as a federal holiday in 1926. In 1954 it was officially amended to Veterans Day to ensure that the day honored all veterans after the recent ending of the Korean War.
The date is chosen for its significance as the official date and time of the signing of the Armistice that officially ended World War I, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Arlington Military Cemetary
Related articles
- From Veterans For Peace: Bells and a Song for Armistice Day/Veterans Day (peaceandbread.com)
- Veterans Day, 11.11.11. Background, Facts & Figures, Tribute Video & Poster Gallery (worldtradedaily.com)
- Armistice Day (framework.latimes.com)
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Filed under: Current Events, Education, Events, Global Perspectives, On this Day in History Tagged: | Armistice Day, Day Veteran, Federal holidays in the United States, Woodrow Wilson, World War, World War I, World War II
No one is better cared for after death, well, in terms of mortal remains, than U.S. military veterans buried in National Cemeteries. (Well, it probably is true for veterans in other countries too, that have military burials). Both burial and care-taking of the deceased is attentive and respectful. I’m sure that’s partly because most of the staff are former service people, destined for burial in the same place.
One could pay a lot of money for a loved one to be buried somewhere offering high end, personal services. But ultimately, when you aren’t visiting, the staff will do as they see best. At the Florida National Cemetery, I know my father is looked after. I phone from Arizona. The good people who work there chat with me, send photos of the grave on Veteran’s Day (which I would never see otherwise), even tell me when there are visitors, what type of flowers etc. It comforts me. I miss my father so, so much. But I know his grave will never be neglected. I will be thankful for that for the rest of my life.
Thank you for writing this gentle post acknowledging Veteran’s Day on 11/11/2011.