Do people really remember what this day is for?
I hope they do. This is the day where we remember the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have fought to preserve our freedom. Those who have fallen in battle. Those who have given maybe not their lives but their health, their ability to live a good life. Or maybe just those who come through physically unscathed but have sacrificed the life they were living before. All to serve their country. All to protect us from those who would do us harm.
Some may not know that there is a reason that this day is commemorated on November 11.
This was the day the First World War ended.
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, hostilities that had been going on for four years in Europe (and elsewhere around the world, though not as intensely) ceased. The bloodshed stopped, at least for the time being. That war was called the "War to End All Wars," because it was thought that no human being would willingly go through the horror that World War I inflicted on the lives of millions of people.
Unfortunately, they were wrong.
In November of 1919, Remembrance Day was dedicated by the British King George V, to be observed throughout the British Commonwealth. Separately, Woodrow Wilson declared that it be celebrated in the United States.
The symbol of Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth, the poppy, was inspired by Canadian Lt. Col. John MacCrae's poem "In Flanders Field," where the poppy imagery is very prevalent.
In 1953, the US changed the name from Remembrance Day to Veterans Day, to celebrate all veterans, not just World War I. While the name hasn't changed in all of the Commonwealth countries, the celebration itself has also become one of all military personnel.
To some, Remembrance Day is just another day off of work or school (except in certain Canadian provinces), and businesses don't necessarily close in the US either. Just like Memorial Day, I sometimes feel the meaning of this day has been lost. Memorial Day has become a day of picnics, cook-outs and family get-togethers. Remembrance Day doesn't even have that.
We should always remember and honour those who have fought and died for our country.
But on this day, please make the extra effort to do so.
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This was also called Decoration Day in the U.S. for long time, even after the name was declared changed to Veteran's Day. We always went to the cemeteries and laid flowers on the graves of family & friends who had served proudly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful article, Dave. I often hear from friends in other countries that they don't quite understand the whole patriotic thing that exists in the United States. I am fervently patriotic (but you probably already know that!) about my country & home state, and it warms my heart when I hear a similar mindset from other countries.
Yes, we do have picnics and casual weekends on these important days, but within my own family structure, the gravity of the specific day is never forgotten. We take it seriously and take time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. We may be outside the norm with that, but it's a tradition we do uphold.
Loved this article!
~ Dawn
Wikipedia says that "Decoration Day" is the former name of Memorial Day. So I didn't know it was also used for Veterans Day. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that this day isn't forgotten in your family, and in many others. There's some hope that it will remain in the thoughts of more and more people too.
If enough of us keep it alive, anyway.
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you liked it.