November 11, 2010

Some people have this day off

Veterans Day (today!) honors U.S. veterans. It is celebrated throughout the world as Anzac Day, Armistice Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day, and Volkstrauertag in remembrance of the armistice that ended World War I.
We celebrated the day as Armistice Day from 1919 until 1954 when it was changed to Veterans Day. While I like the idea of honoring all the vets, I dislike the fact that the commemoration of the war to end all wars has been supplanted.
In all of Europe and the Antipodes, this day is about peace. In the United States, this day is about soldiers. I appreciate the soldiers, but I appreciate peace more.

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