How can I not end this week with a tribute to the men and women who fight and have fought for our liberties and freedoms? Today, who really cares that they're rioting up at Penn State over Joe Paterno? Who cares if Herman Cain sexually harassed former employees? Today is about honoring those who defend our freedoms as Americans by putting themselves in harms way, whether it was in Vietnam or Korea or Afghanistan or even Iraq. This day is all about them, and instead of wasting Internet space on people who really don't matter, I'd rather say "Thank You" to the people who really do! So, "Thank You and Happy Veterans Day" to all of men and women in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines, who fight for us everyday!
I do have a question, however. Does anyone really know why we chose November 11 as Veterans Day? I found this to be pretty educational! It turned out, the idea of honoring US soldiers in November reached way back to World War I, but it wasn't called Veterans Day back then.
The story goes like this; American troops made some significant headway in 1918, rebuffing a German offensive along the western front, and moving Allied forces deeper into enemy territory. By November, Germany apparently had enough, and agreed to a cease-fire, signing the official armistice at 5 a.m. on November 11. The treaty took effect six hours later. On the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month," and as the saying goes, the world knew peace once again!
The "War to End All Wars" had ended, and for the next 36 years, America would remember November 11 as Armistice Day. However, as we all know from our history books, war broke out again in 1939. A new generation of Americans risked their lives in World War II and the Korean War, and by 1954, the name Armistice Day didn't sound right anymore. So, Congress swapped out "Armistice" in favor of a word that could honor all of America's veterans, and Veterans Day was born!
The reason why I felt the need to remind you of Armistice Day this year is because for the first time, this holiday has landed on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – of the eleventh year, 11-11-11. Once again, Happy Veterans Day to all of our Vets out there! Don't forget to hug one or thank one if you see one today!
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