Armistice Day: Honoring Our Veterans and The Price of War

Armistice Day, which is also known as Remembrance Day or Veterans Day, is an annual observance that takes place on November 11th. The day marks the armistice agreement signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany in 1918, which brought an end to the fighting on the Western Front of the war. Armistice Day is a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives in the war and for all veterans who have served their countries in times of conflict.

Armistice Day has been observed in various forms since the end of World War I. In 1919, King George V of the United Kingdom declared November 11th as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the war. The day was later adopted by other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all veterans who have served in the country’s armed forces.

On Armistice Day, people around the world observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am local time to remember those who lost their lives in the war. Many also wear poppies, a symbol of remembrance that originated from the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The poem describes the poppies that grew on the graves of fallen soldiers in Flanders, Belgium, during World War I.

In addition to observing a moment of silence and wearing poppies, many communities hold parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, and other events to honor veterans and remember those who lost their lives in the war. The Royal British Legion, a UK charity that provides support to veterans and their families, organizes the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The festival features music, poetry, and other performances to commemorate the sacrifices of those who served in the armed forces.

Armistice Day is an important reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in World War I and all other conflicts since. It is a day to reflect on the price of war and the importance of peace. As former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”

Sources:

1. Source – https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/about-remembrance/armistice-day
2. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-i-ends
3. https://www.historyonthenet.com/world-war-two-timeline

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