One hundred and three years ago, on November 11, 1918, at 11 o'clock in the
morning, the armistice between the Allies and Germany was signed, ending
hostilities on Europe's Western Front in World War I. The time was
significant: the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month was meant
to signal, after fighting the most horrific war up to that time, that
humanity was literally in its 11th hour in confronting the threat of war
to its survival. Called Armistice Day at first, in 1954 President
Eisenhower proclaimed that the holiday should be a commemoration of all
veterans and from then on, we've known it as Veterans Day.
Today, we Americans honor our Armed Forces veterans who served their
country in war and peace, mindful that their service and sacrifice
should be honored not only today, but every day.
