This Sunday marks 100 years since World War I ended on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
The following year, Americans commemorated the war’s conclusion, establishing what became known as Armistice Day in 1919, the predecessor to today’s Veteran’s Day.
At that time, the first world war was called “the war to end all wars.” Many believed that mankind would never again resort to such destruction, which had nearly devastated Western Civilization and claimed millions of lives for reasons that remain unclear to people before, during, and after the conflict.
History proved such idealism to be naive. Within 21 years, the world descended into another global conflict that dwarfed the first, turning WWII into what seemed like a catastrophic sequel from 1939-45.
Following that massive second world war, the United States has participated in numerous armed conflicts over the past 73 years since General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender aboard the Battleship Missouri. American forces continue to fight — and fall — in combat zones across the globe today.
The concept of lasting peace has remained largely illusory throughout most of the past century.
In 1954, Armistice Day was officially renamed Veteran’s Day to honor those who served during WWII and the Korean War, as well as all subsequent veterans. This annual observance reflects our nation’s gratitude toward the men and women who answered duty’s call and sacrificed to preserve the freedoms Americans cherish against the threats we have faced.
Though Veteran’s Day, like other national holidays, has unfortunately become commercialized, we encourage readers to pause and reflect on what we owe our veterans from all wars, expressing our gratitude for the freedom they have enabled us to enjoy in the greatest nation on earth.
Veteran’s Day should serve as a reminder that freedom carries a price and that every American bears an immeasurable debt of thanks to those who risked everything to defend our ideals and our way of life.