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Veterans Day, November 11 |
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In the
early years of the twentieth
century, a war called the Great
War involved most of the
countries of the earth.
Millions died as a result of
new and terrible weapons.
Everyone hoped that it was the
“war to end all wars.” A very
special time was chosen as the
hour when the guns would be
stilled and peace declared: the
eleventh hour of the eleventh
day of the eleventh month. By
this choice, the signers of the
peace treaty suggested that
humankind had waited until it
was nearly too later. The war
would come to be known as the
First World War.
The day
chosen for the beginning of
peace was special for another
reason. It was the memorial of
St. Martin of Tours. Martin had
been a soldier in the army
until he laid down his weapons.
His feast day, Martinmas, was a
celebration of peace. That day
had also been a thanksgiving
festival in Europe since the
Middle Ages. Now there was even
more reason to be thankful.
In
Canada, Armistice Day became
known as Remembrance Day after
the Second World War. It became
a time to honor those who died
in both conflicts. In the
United States, this day is now
called Veterans’ Day. All
Americans who have fought in
wars during this century -
those who survived as well as
those who died - are honored.
From
Companion to the Calendar,
M.E.Hynes
Index of past 'Did you knows
...'
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