On Friday, November 10th, students across the country forewent the usual routine of an early wake up, carpool, and first period. Instead, they enjoyed a late morning, Netflix, and time with friends. This day off from school and work means different things to different people. For most students, it’s a welcome respite from the daily drudgery of essays and algebra. For others, it’s a holiday that honors an unforgettable moment in American history, one that sums up the best of the United States.
The year is 1918. Since the summer of 1914, the countries of Europe have fought bitterly against one another in the most gruesome war to date. The stench of sweat, blood, and rot are so omnipresent that they permeate the skin of every soldier, no matter which side of no-man’s-land they claim. Gas and bullets have stolen countless lives, but disease is a far deadlier beast. Like the best-trained assassin, it creeps through every trench, taking victims indiscriminately. Despite the staggering number of casualties, the Western Front has shifted no more than 50 miles since 1915. War-weary soldiers can hardly remember anything except mud and death.
There’s hope on the horizon. America has recently joined the war, and every day the Allies are supplied with more and more fresh “doughboys”. These young American volunteers are eager to prove themselves and their country- which, at the beginning of the war, had a military ranked 17th in the world. Now, its ranks have swelled from 120,000 to over 4.8 million. The influx of men, money, and materials creates an insurmountable advantage for the Allies and intimidates the Central Powers. Finally, they concede an Allied victory, and plans are promptly made to end the Great War. 11:00, on the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, armies across Europe lay down their arms. The date was thus declared Armistice Day.
While it may seem natural to designate such a monumental day, Veterans Day as we know it still had a long way to go. President Woodrow Wilson commemorated the event in 1919, saying, “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…because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations”. However, it wasn’t until 1938 that Armistice Day became a legal (national) holiday. At this point, it served mostly to honor veterans of World War I. The term Veterans Day came into play after World War II so that all veterans of all wars could be honored. In 1968, a bill was signed that established Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Washington’s Birthday, and Memorial Day would all be celebrated on Mondays, so federal employees would be guaranteed a three-day weekend. November 11th held such a significance to Americans, and especially veterans, that the bill was amended in 1975 to return Veterans Day to its original date, no matter what day of the week it fell on.
Though Veterans Day has come and gone, take some time to remember the sacrifices of those who fought to preserve democracy, freedom, and justice in the world. And maybe send a veteran or active-duty service member you know a quick text thanking them for their service. After all, Veterans Day is only possible because of them.
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