by nate on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 | Knowledge, News, World

Also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during war; this was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.

-Wikipedia-

Now the celebrations include the sentiment to “stop” them from fighting anymore. Now the people are excited and eager to end the war in Iraq on this special veterans or Armistice Day. “It sucks when someone is away at war,” said Emily Keehn. She is a student who had the experience of accompanying soldiers at war in a boot camp.

“On Veterans Day we honor those who fought to keep freedom safe in America as well as those who fought to extend that freedom around the world,” Gov. Bill Ritter said in a statement. “We pay tribute, we remember.” A great way to honor veterans is to give them employment when they leave the military, said Ritter, who proclaimed November “Hire a Veteran First Month.” Colorado has 450,000 veterans, some of them struggling to find work, even those with outstanding qualifications.

On November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m., the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities ceased in World War I. It was supposed to be “the war to end all wars.” It definitely wasn’t. Our idealistic president, Woodrow Wilson, ultimately was crushed by the realization that his mission was failing.

It was a great soldier of World War II, President Eisenhower, who tried to establish Veterans Day as a holiday to include veterans of all wars. He met a lot of opposition. Ultimately, we were left with what we have today, a screwy compromise – a holiday placed on the anniversary of Armistice Day that we call Veterans Day.

Let’s not tinker with a national holiday that goes back to Wilson’s time. We need our history and so do our kids.

source: msnbc.com, durangoherald.com

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