The Touch Of Another Changes A Lot

Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor all American veterans of war. On November 11, 1918, a cessation of hostilities, or armistice, between the Allied Powers and Germany took place. With this armistice, fighting during World War I ended, and the stage was set for a treaty to be signed formally ending the war. On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. On the first anniversary of the armistice, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day as Armistice Day, and said, “To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.” At this time celebrations were marked with parades and public meetings, as well as brief pauses in business at 11:00 AM, the time at which the armistice had taken place in 1918.