Happy Armistice Day!
Happy Armistice Day! I know, you think it's Veterans Day, but it started out as Armistice Day, the commemoration of the signing of the cease-fire agreement - or armistice - that ended, on November 11, 1918, The Great War, The War To End All Wars, the war we now call World War One.
A proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 made the 11th of November an annual celebration. Wilson's proclamation ended with these words:
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 nation.
The “thing from which it has freed us” was, of course, the war; the bloodshed and killing.
In 1926, Congress recognized Armistice Day with a resolution including these words:
“it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
I like the original intent of Armistice Day: to recognize the armistice which ended war, to give America an opportunity “to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation”, and an opportunity to “perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
Unfortunately, “The War To End All Wars” didn't end all war, and in 1954 Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, a day to honor the veterans of all wars. I don't mind honoring our war veterans, I suppose, I just don't want to make any more of them.
I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day to celebrate that moment when the world believed it had just ended The War To End All Wars, and I'd like to see us work to make those dreams of peace into reality. I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day when the councils of the nation show their sympathy with peace and justice. I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day when we work to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations. I'd like to relegate Veterans Day, and war, to the dustbins of history. Instead of war heroes, I'd like to honor peace heroes. I'd like to bring back Armistice Day.
A proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 made the 11th of November an annual celebration. Wilson's proclamation ended with these words:
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 nation.
The “thing from which it has freed us” was, of course, the war; the bloodshed and killing.
In 1926, Congress recognized Armistice Day with a resolution including these words:
“it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
I like the original intent of Armistice Day: to recognize the armistice which ended war, to give America an opportunity “to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation”, and an opportunity to “perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
Unfortunately, “The War To End All Wars” didn't end all war, and in 1954 Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, a day to honor the veterans of all wars. I don't mind honoring our war veterans, I suppose, I just don't want to make any more of them.
I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day to celebrate that moment when the world believed it had just ended The War To End All Wars, and I'd like to see us work to make those dreams of peace into reality. I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day when the councils of the nation show their sympathy with peace and justice. I'd like to see us make November 11th once again a day when we work to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations. I'd like to relegate Veterans Day, and war, to the dustbins of history. Instead of war heroes, I'd like to honor peace heroes. I'd like to bring back Armistice Day.
posted by Jim Allyn at 11/14/2006 07:17:00 PM
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