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The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is Remembrance.
It's no wonder Australian soldiers were dancing in the streets. Armistice Day marked the end of the bloodiest war the world
had seen.
Although Australia became a nation in 1901 its loyalties still lay with Britain and so the Australian government had committed
itself to supporting the British war effort and Australian men volunteered to fight and die on the battlefields of Europe,
Turkey and the Middle East.
Of the Australian population of 5 million, 300,000 young men went to the Great War. Of those 60,000 died and 156,000 were
wounded or taken prisoner.(http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/remembrance/)
Veterans' Day (formerly Armistice Day)
November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in the Forest
of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War I, after four years of conflict.
At
5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice, an order was issued for all firing to cease; so the
hostilities of the First World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of whistles, impromptu
parades, closing of places of business. All over the globe there were many demonstrations; no doubt the world has never
before witnessed such rejoicing.
In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation.
The last paragraph set the tone for future observances:
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 nation.
In 1927 Congress issued a resolution
requesting President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation calling upon officials to display the Flag of the United States
on all government buildings on November 11, and inviting the people to observe the day in schools and churches...But it was
not until 1938 that Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter
celebrated and known as Armistice Day."
That same year President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill
making the day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For sixteen years the United States formally observed Armistice
Day, with impressive ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Chief Executive or his representative placed
a wreath. In many other communities, the American Legion was in charge of the observance, which included parades and
religious services. At 11 A.M. all traffic stopped, in tribute to the dead, then volleys were fired and taps sounded.
After World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no association with World War I.
The word, "armistice," means simply a truce; therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday changed.
Leaders of Veterans' groups decided to try to correct this and make November 11 the time to honor all who had fought in various
American wars, not just in World War I.
In Emporia, Kansas, on November 11, 1953, instead of an Armistice
Day program, there was a Veterans' Day observance. Ed Rees, of Emporia, was so impressed that he introduced a bill into
the House to change the name to Veterans' Day. After this passed, Mr. Rees wrote to all state governors and asked for
their approval and cooperation in observing the changed holiday. The name was changed to Veterans' Day by Act of Congress
on May 24, 1954. In October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe the day by remembering
the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace.
The President referred to the change of name to Veterans' Day in honor of the servicemen of all America's wars.
(http://www.patriotism.org/veterans_day/index.html)
Flanders Feild
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the
sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now
we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it
high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders
fields.
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