Veterans Day arrives this Friday, November 11, as an annual tribute to those who have served. The observance traces its roots to 1919, when Armistice Day commemorated the first anniversary of World War I’s conclusion—formally achieved at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
During that era, the first world war was characterized as “the war to end all wars.” Many believed that humanity would never again descend into such devastation, with so much of the world destroyed and millions of lives lost for reasons that remained unclear to people before, during, and after the conflict.
History, however, would prove such optimism misguided. Within just 21 years, global conflict engulfed the world once more, making the earlier war appear almost like a preliminary exercise in mass destruction.
Since General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender aboard the Battleship Missouri, America has engaged in numerous violent conflicts over the past 71 years.
In 1954, Armistice Day was officially renamed Veterans Day to honor those who served in World War II and the Korean War, and to recognize all who have served since. The name change reflects our nation’s gratitude toward the men and women who answered duty’s call, working to preserve and strengthen the freedoms Americans cherish against the many threats we have encountered.
While Veterans Day, like our other national holidays, has regrettably become commercialized, we encourage readers to pause—even in quiet reflection—to consider what we owe our veterans from all wars and to express our appreciation for their sacrifice in allowing us to live as free people in the greatest nation on earth.