Veterans Day has a rich history associated with it. It marks the end of the Great War (aka World War I). In the U.S., it’s a public holiday with the intent of marking thanks to everyone who has served in the armed forces. Since Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year, the observance falls on the next day.
Veterans Day is also known as Armistice Day in many parts of the world. At the time, the day marked the signing of the armistice ending WWI. No one thought there would be another war like that. In hindsight, we realize how improbable that was.
The original armistice was completed in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year. This has become a frequent moment of silence as the years have gone by. It’s often metaphorically when the guns stopped firing, though actually coordinating a military stop took a little longer.
The day is also known as Remembrance Day. The poppies enter the story here. Poppies grew in battle-scarred fields and inspired the infamous poem “In Flanders Fields.” The red is the natural color for the poppies, and it is worn in remembrance of lives lost. It is not uncommon to see poppies in buttonholes and pinned to blouses around the world.
Whether it’s called Veterans Day, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, the day provides the same opportunity to reflect on the service of military veterans around the world and offer gratitude. So in honor of the day, thank you to all veterans for your service today and every day.
References
Historic Royal Palaces. Tower of London Remembers. 2014. Web. 07 November 2018.
History.com Editors. Veterans Day Facts. 14 October 2009. Web. 07 November 2018.
Sun Key Publishing. Meaning of Veterans Day. n.d. Web. 07 November 2018.
The Royal British Legion. The Poppy. n.d. Web. 07 November 2018.