Armistice Day 11/11/19 100 Years Later 11TH OF NOVEMBER
VETERANS DAY HONORING ALL WHO SERVED
By Ken Riege USAF 1985 – 1993 That’s correct; the very first “Armistice Day” was on 11 November 1919 marking the 1st Anniversary of the ending of WW1 or the War to End all Wars. Today, we call this day “Veterans Day” which is a day to honor all those who have served. Of course here in Gallup, we have decided that every day is “Veterans Day” which is the main reason we still carry the title of “Most Patriotic Small Town in America.” On 11 November 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued this message on the first Armistice Day, in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans: A year ago today, our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.
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With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought. Out of this victory, there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men. 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 nations. WOODROW WILSON
It wasn’t until after WW2 and the Korean War that Congress approved a change and on 1 June 1954, November 11th became forever known as Veterans Day, a day to honor all veterans who have served. 2011 was a very interesting date as it marked the first Veterans Day, where the date was 11-11-11. This of course will not happen again for another 92 years. In doing some research on this story, Military.com listed the following 8 ways to show your appreciation for a veteran on Veterans Day. They are as follows:
1. Show Up Attend a Veterans Day event in your area — not just a picnic with friends but an honest-to-goodness parade or service for veterans. Roy Rogers said, “We can’t all be heroes; someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” Veterans Day is a great opportunity to do just that. 2. Donate There are a plethora of wonderful organizations who offer all manner of support, services, and appreciation for our service members. 3. Fly A Flag - Correctly Veterans Day is a great opportunity to fly the flag! Just make sure you’re observing the proper rules for display. Not sure exactly what those are? Check out Military.com’s guide to the flag. 4. Ask Someone About Their Service It seems like we all know someone who has served and Veterans Day is a great time to ask them about their service. Some questions to get started are: What did you do in the military? How long did you serve? What was your favorite moment in all your time in the service? Did anyone else in your family serve? Why did you choose to go into the service branch you did? Do not ask if they’ve killed anyone and should your veteran be a combat vet who is either unwilling to share or plainly states what they went through, be supportive without being intrusive. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything, just listen and give them your full attention. 5. Write If you know a veteran, write a simple postcard or e-card that recognizes them on Veterans Day. If you don’t know a veteran, look up the closest military installation and send one there. Small acts of recognizing someone’s service, even anonymously, are appreciated. 6. Don’t Confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day Veterans Day is a time to thank those who are serving or have served and are still with us. Memorial Day is to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in service to their country. Confusing the two or combining the two diminishes the importance of both. 7. Visit a VA Hospital Find out what the policies are at your nearest VA hospital for interacting with patients or volunteering, and spend the day with a veteran. Many VA facilities will have events
