The History of Veterans Day It was referred to as the Great War and began with the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. In the end, Germany was running low on manpower and supplies and agreed to sign an armistice, or truce. The day was initially called Remembrance Day and began in a railroad car with the signing of a document, ending World War I. It was signed at the 11th hour, of the 11th day on the 11th month of 1918. It was a war that encircled the world and when the fighting finally ended, millions were dead. Exactly one year later President Woodrow Wilson decreed that Americans should observe a moment of silence at 11am on November 11, 1919 so that we should all remember the armistice and embrace the peace. Other allied nations also observed the armistice. In England and Canada people began wearing paper poppies which became a part of our remembrance on Armistice Day. Poppies referenced Flanders Field, described as a one time battle field. In Flanders Field the Poppies blow between the crosses row on row. In America, the First unknown soldier was laid to rest on November 11, 1921 in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was a casualty of the Great War. A resolution was passed in 1926 inviting all Americans to remember Armistice Day and in 1938, Congress made it a legal holiday. After WWII and the Korean War, Americans wanted to include all who had served. That was done in 1954 when President Eisenhower who changed the name to Veterans Day. Initially the day was a call for world peace. It then became a day for all Americans to remember all who served their country in war. Today it honors all who have served.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 21:22:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015