Ninety-seven years ago this morning Paris, France time the guns on the Western Front of the Great War fell silent. Though the official end of hostilities came with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919, all fighting between the Allied Powers and Imperial Germany ceased with the armistice declared at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918. The Congress of the United States established November 11th as Armistice Day when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4th, 1926 with the following statement:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An act approved by Congress in 1938 made November 11th a national legal holiday. In 1954 that act was amended by striking the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.”
This holiday was one which was thoroughly celebrated with a full parade along this, the most conservative stretch of the Mother Road. Enjoying some down time this week, I ventured to downtown Tulsa to observe the festivities. I have been watching the Downtown Tulsa Veterans Day Parade whenever I have been able to attend dating back to 1983 when I was a student at the then Tulsa Junior College Metro Campus. I vividly remember the 90-odd year old Veteran Doughboy stepping lively and proudly sporting his 1918 issue uniform leading the way followed by all local units of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Naval and Marine Corps Reserve and of course the seemingly ubiquitous Shriners, who were on hand near the end of the procession today.
I took note that so many of the spectators were veterans and family members of veterans. I even wore a shirt with the name of my old ship on it along with a USS Robison ball cap I picked up at a ship reunion a few years ago.
One thing that I find annoying in post-9/11 America is an ever increasing number of people I encounter who I do not know and who do not know me but appear compelled to offer the impersonal verbal gratuity of “Thank you for your service” when they learn I am a Navy Veteran. I don’t know why I find that annoying but I do. I volunteered to serve and I don’t feel like I ever had a need or desire to wear my sense of patriotism on my sleeve nor did I feel a need to be thanked for anything beyond what I received in my direct deposit account at the credit union on every military payday. I always thought if you are living right that it would be apparent through your attitude and deeds. This is what I was thinking about as veterans paraded past with banners displaying all manner of patriotic platitudes.
When I arrived home after the midday festivities downtown I turned on the TV to a cable news channel. Some reporter covering the Veterans Day festivities in Washington threw out a statistic to the effect that only 7% of the American population have ever served in the Armed Forces. I did a little research via Google and that is in fact pretty accurate. The actual figure is 7.3%. I remember learning that I was the ranking veteran of my high school class when we had our thirtieth reunion a few years ago. I gave the Military Veteran’s tribute segment of our reunion assembly. Out of a total of 616 graduates there were fewer than 35 class members who ever served in the Armed Forces and I am counting people who washed out of Boot Camp! That places our class under the national average but I will acknowledge that we have a few in my class who are military parents and they are every bit as dedicated as military spouses.
If anyone, particularly any elected legislator, wishes to thank any veteran for their service they can start by passing legislation that helps rather than penalizes those who have born the burden of the defense of the Constitution. You don’t win any friends among Veteran’s groups when you vote against measures intended to benefit them, regardless what your reasoning may be. This is America and at the end of the day if you do not possess the wherewithal, any notion of freedom is purely academic. That is what I hope the take-home message is for anyone who has the power to send young Americans into Harm’s Way.
I would like to extend my sentiments to all my fellow U.S. Veterans, those with whom I served during my 21+ years in the Navy and Reserve and those with whom I still serve in the community. All gave some, some gave all, may the service of all never be forgotten!
Spot on as usual. I feel so very fortunate to have met you and made a friend I hope for life
Well put, Stan. I too, am slightly put off with the “thank you for your service,” from total strangers. I’m sure they mean well.
The reason for the Armistice signing on November 11, and at 11:00 pm is another faded memory that fewer can recall.