From Armistice Day to Veterans Day: A history of sacrifice and remembrance
Photo courtesy of Audra Tadevich on Unsplash
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
With every year that passes, the world continues to take time to remember, honor and celebrate the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and safety of their country.
World War I, which began in 1914, was a global conflict involving many of the world’s major powers. These powers included France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary and later the United States.
According to history.com, the war was so brutal that historians have difficulty agreeing on exactly how many people lost their lives. Most sources claim that 15 to 22 million died. Of these deaths, historians estimate that 6 to 15 million were soldiers.
On November 11, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed the Armistice agreement. This agreement, which was signed at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, brought an end to four years of brutal warfare that devastated Europe and resulted in millions of deaths. Later, Germany and the Allied Powers signed the Treaty of Versailles that officially ended the war.
After the war, people wanted to establish a day where the world would remember those who sacrificed their lives to honor their country and protect its people.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in November of 1919, President Wilson stated that November 11 would officially be known as Armistice Day.
“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 the nations,” Wilson said.
Since that day, the world takes time every November 11 to remember and honor those who gave their lives in World War I, as well as those who served in other wars.
Although the day continues to be about those who served in the war, over the years, countries have begun to celebrate in different ways.
Europe still remembers the holiday as Armistice Day. When the day approaches, people wear red poppy pins on their clothes. The poppy symbolizes those who shed blood in the war. The concept of the poppy originated from Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem titled “In Flanders Field.” The poem describes poppies growing on the battlefields. This metaphor offered hope during the sorrowful days of the war.
The United States remembers the holiday differently. In 1938, the day officially became a federal holiday, and in 1954, the country changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
To celebrate the day, Americans often hold parades in honor of veterans. These parades usually feature marching bands, veterans groups, military units and civic organizations. The largest parade typically takes place in New York City. Other large cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. also host large parades.
Along with these parades, the United States remembers the day by arranging veterans’ speeches in schools, organizing military aircraft flyovers in Veterans Day observances, holding a moment of silence for those lost at 11 a.m. and using the media as an outlet to remind people of the sacrifices made.
Brendan Payne, history professor at North Greenville University, encouraged students to take time amidst the busyness on November 11 to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
Payne explained that NGU has students who are veterans. Some served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. These students served as both servicemen and as contractors.
He urged students to actively reach out to veterans and remember their service on this day.
“I would encourage people to take time to remember the sacrifices, not only of those who have died for our country, but those who are living for our country. And we can take time, not only on one particular day of the year, but throughout the year, to come alongside those who have served,” Payne said.
Payne explained that the costs of serving in war goes much deeper than we can see.
“People should reach out to those who served and are dealing with the cost of serving. Some with post-traumatic stress disorder, some dealing with injuries from the conflict and some of them struggling to adjust to civilian life. There are many scars, both visible and invisible,” he said.
As November 11 approaches, take a moment not only to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, but also to recognize and support veterans in the community. Their service continues to affect our lives today, and we should honor their sacrifices throughout the whole year.
