At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the Year of Our Lord 1918, the guns fell silent in France and the men of the Allied Expeditionary Forces including a huge contingent of Americans finally were able to lay down their arms with the onset of a truce. Although the terms of Germany's surrender would be determined later, the active fighting was done and with it came the end of World War I.
The following year President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of what was thought to have been the War to End All Wars. Little did they know in just over twenty years the world would be in turmoil again and Americans would once again go off to war to fight evil forces of Hitler's Germany in Europe and his ally, the Empire of Japan, in the Pacific. That America was successful even though pulled into two far distant theaters at the same time is a tribute to the men and women who gallantly served the Red, White and Blue. Many suffered the ultimate sacrifice, many others were seriously wounded and maimed, but all stood resolute for a cause which was just and could not be avoided.
As a result of this second horrific war, Congress acted to change the designation of the day and in 1954 the President of the United States signed into law the change of designation of November 11th from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Hereafter the day would be in honor of all American men and women who served, and continue to serve, their grateful nation in uniform. I think it highly appropriate that the signatory President was Dwight D. Eisenhower, the man who had served as the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Europe during World War II.
I hope all Americans will spend at least part of the day today remembering and saying prayers for the men and women who have served them and, in particular, those who have suffered the ultimate sacrifice or were wounded in combat. These Americans and their brothers and sisters at arms all represent the finest traditions of America and deserve to be recognized for what they willingly have done.
Thanks, Veterans, for a job well done. And America, make a point of thanking every veteran you see for their service. They will smile back at you with great pride. Happy Veterans Day. May America always stay free and remain the bastion of strength against tyranny wherever it might rear its ugly head. God bless America, our home, sweet home.
The following year President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11th as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of what was thought to have been the War to End All Wars. Little did they know in just over twenty years the world would be in turmoil again and Americans would once again go off to war to fight evil forces of Hitler's Germany in Europe and his ally, the Empire of Japan, in the Pacific. That America was successful even though pulled into two far distant theaters at the same time is a tribute to the men and women who gallantly served the Red, White and Blue. Many suffered the ultimate sacrifice, many others were seriously wounded and maimed, but all stood resolute for a cause which was just and could not be avoided.
As a result of this second horrific war, Congress acted to change the designation of the day and in 1954 the President of the United States signed into law the change of designation of November 11th from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Hereafter the day would be in honor of all American men and women who served, and continue to serve, their grateful nation in uniform. I think it highly appropriate that the signatory President was Dwight D. Eisenhower, the man who had served as the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Europe during World War II.
I hope all Americans will spend at least part of the day today remembering and saying prayers for the men and women who have served them and, in particular, those who have suffered the ultimate sacrifice or were wounded in combat. These Americans and their brothers and sisters at arms all represent the finest traditions of America and deserve to be recognized for what they willingly have done.
Thanks, Veterans, for a job well done. And America, make a point of thanking every veteran you see for their service. They will smile back at you with great pride. Happy Veterans Day. May America always stay free and remain the bastion of strength against tyranny wherever it might rear its ugly head. God bless America, our home, sweet home.
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