At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918, the Armistice—or truce—was signed by the Allies and Germany, thus halting the carnage of the “Great War” or WWI. The official end of the war was declared at the Treaty of Versailles in June of 1919.
World War I pulverized parts of Europe and inflicted massive casualties, and some predicted it would be the war to end all wars.
However, lingering grievances from this war would partially trigger a more devastating WWII, but for now, peace was at hand. Participating nations began to pick up the pieces and honor those who had fought to strengthen liberty and stability.
Armistice Day (Remembrance Day to some U.S. allies) became an official holiday in 1938 through an act of Congress which President Franklin Roosevelt endorsed. Following WWII and the Korean War, veterans fought to enlarge the significance of Armistice Day to include all veterans who served their country.
During the Revolutionary War against England, principled colonists signed on to the noble mission of independence and their God-given right to human freedom. Moreover, our soldiers fought bravely in an epic Civil War (1861–65), and a Union victory helped forge greater equality and the restoration of a fractured nation.
Countless soldiers fought under brutal conditions in WWI and lost their lives in the trenches of Flanders Fields. In WWII, millions of allies engaged the enemy across North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific to prevail against the atrocities of the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). During Korea’s “forgotten war,” allied forces battled the communists in the bitter cold at historic landmarks such as Chosin Reservoir and Heartbreak Ridge.
Regardless of our convictions regarding the Vietnam War, our troops struggled to keep South Vietnam free from totalitarian rule. Moreover, we ought to honor the valor of prisoners of war such as Bud Day, John McCain, James Stockdale, and others who endured years of torture in the hellish Hoa Lo prison (Hanoi Hilton) yet emerged with their honor intact. Our military forces also fought al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Taliban for several years in Afghanistan and Iraq. Currently, many of our sailors and soldiers are stationed in the Middle East to help deter a wider conflagration.
Veterans Day is a special day to commemorate all living and deceased veterans who heeded the call of duty and honorably served this great nation. That would include veterans missing in action, our wounded warriors, prisoners of war, and millions of living veterans who have served during peacetime or military conflicts.
President Ronald Reagan stated on Veterans Day in 1985 at Arlington National Cemetery, in honor of those who have died, “We owe them a debt we can never repay. All we can do is remember them and what they did and why they had to be brave for us. ... In memory of those who gave the last full measure of devotion, may our efforts to achieve lasting peace gain strength.”
When recruits enter any branch of the armed forces, they are aware that future missions could thrust them into harm’s way. Yet they are willing to fight and die for the cause of human liberty. Who are these men and women? They are ordinary individuals who, along with their families, make great sacrifices and endure extraordinary challenges. What higher commitment is there than to place one’s life on the line for humanity?
Whether one agrees or disagrees with American military policies, our veterans are stationed around the globe providing disaster relief, defending democratic institutions, battling terrorism, deterring aggressors, reassuring our allies, and striving to improve security in volatile regions. On this day and every day, let us be thankful for their service and pray for their safety and eventual return home. We should also pray that woke influences at the Pentagon will be replaced by an emphasis on beefing up military capabilities and readiness.
Our veterans understand that freedom is an ideal worth defending, because there will always be terrorists and tyrants who hope to undermine liberty, progress, the rule of law, and global security. By honoring our veterans, we demonstrate gratitude for their devotion to human dignity and freedom.
Through their selfless service, we might better understand responsible liberty and be inspired to live with a higher sense of purpose.
