Thank You Veterans!
For many Americans today, especially young Americans, World War One is something they have only read about in their history books, if they bothered to read that chapter. They have no idea what the war was about, why America was involved, or why it was called "The War to End All Wars."
World War 1, also known as the Great War, took place from 1914 to 1918, primarily between the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, and the Allied Powers of France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and later the United States. While it was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the war was really about territorial supremacy.
It was the first 'mechanized' war with modern firearms, artillery, aircraft, chemical weapons like 'mustard gas' and widespread trench warfare. The war resulted in destruction and carnage across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa like the world had never seen. More than 16 million people, military and civilians, had perished by the time the Allied Powers defeated the Central Powers.
For much of the early war the United States observed neutrality and continued to trade with both sides of the conflict; however, Germany's submarine attacks on neutral ships including passenger carrying ocean liners, like the Lusitania ultimately led to America Declaring War against Germany on April 2, 1917. American forces along other Allied troops won many decisive battles leading to the end of the war. American's have a history of hearing the call of duty and moving to serve greater humanity.
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in Versailles, France. Fighting had ceased seven months earlier when the armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. As such, November 11, 1918, is regarded as the end of "the war to end all wars."
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following 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 nations…"
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls. The observance of Veterans Day on November 11 preserves the date's historical significance and helps us focus on the importance of Veterans Day. It is a day to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve, and sacrifices.
