As a veteran, I naturally remember that November 11 is celebrated here as Veterans Day, but what many Americans may not realize is that November 11 has important historical significance, especially in Europe.
On November 11 at 11 a.m. in 2018, fighting in Europe in the Great War — World War I — officially ended with an armistice, but peace was not achieved until June of the next year. Of course, the Treaty of Versailles ending WWI also created Adolph Hitler, Nazi Germany, and the start of World War II.
We celebrated Armistice Day here until 1954, when the American hero of WWII, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, signed legislation as president changing November 11 into Veterans Day.
On television today, I was able to watch the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery celebrating Veterans Day with speeches and a wreath laying. On the BBC, I was able to watch wreath-laying ceremonies across the cities and countries of the United Kingdom celebrating Armistice Day.
I’m not sure if the other countries of Europe celebrated the occasion, but for many of them, it was the U.S.’s entrance into WWI that helped draw the horror to a conclusion.
