Thursday, November 09, 2006

VETERANS DAY

Does anyone know the significance of the phrase “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month"?

It's the time, day, and month when, in 1918, the peace treaty was signed bringing an end to the conflict we know today as World War I.
People notice and remember unusual coincidences like this.

In the years following 1918 many nations chose to honor those who fought and died in the War with special ceremonies held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In England , an Unknown Soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is the sacred and hollowed place where the people of Great Britain honor their heroes.
In France an Unknown Soldier was buried in Paris beneath the Arch de Triumph, a sacred place to the French.
In the United States , on November 11, 19 21, we created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery .

Over time, other nameless heroes have been added to our Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Today, there is an unidentified soldier from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This sacred place has come to symbolize all those who have fought and died in the service of our country.

Our Congress made this day a national holiday, originally known as Armistice Day - to honor the end of the "war to end all wars".

Unfortunately, there were other wars. Armistice Day has been renamed Veteran's Day.

For a brief time, Veteran's Day was moved from November 11th.
Congress turned it into one of those Monday - 3 day weekend holidays. People, however, remembered the coincidental date. Fate or the hand of God perhaps, had marked forever the 11th of November - Congress had to change it back.
Veteran's Day should be a time when we remember, and honor, all that have served in these nations armed forces.