The Irony Behind the History of Veterans Day
Why Veterans Day is always on November 11.
Today is Veterans Day - a day to remember all the men and women who have served in the military.
While Memorial Day honors members of the military who died while serving in the U.S. military, Veterans Day honors all U.S. military members for their service.
Why is Veterans Day Always on November 11?
The history of Veterans Day is grounded in the end of World War I.
World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in France. However, the fighting between the Allied nations and Germany stopped a little over seven months earlier, on November 11, 1918, when a temporary truce went into effect.
November 11, 1918, is regarded by most as “the end of the war to end all wars.”
At first, Veterans Day was observed on October 25 - but this date did not carry the significance of November 11.
On September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford returned the observance of Veterans Day to November 11. The yearly observance of the new date began in 1978. This change occurred at the request of many lawmakers, veteran organizations, and the American people.
The Irony of Having Veterans Day on November 11.
Remember that November 11 was regarded as “the end of the war to end all wars.”
If you know anything about U.S. or world history, then you know that World War I was not the final war in this world.
According to the Imperial War Museum, there have been at least 32 wars worldwide since World War I. The United States was involved in several of these wars.
And so we honor and remember those who have served in the military and fought in wars on a date that was supposed to symbolize no more wars.
If that’s not irony, then I don’t know what is.
Why Do Wars Keep Happening?
While the world offers many explanations for why wars occur, God tells us why wars and fights happen.
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 3:16-4:4)
Now, James is writing to Christians and reminding them where “wars and fights” among themselves come from - it doesn’t come from the “wisdom from above” but from “friendship with the world.”
But the principle for why wars in this world happen is there.
“Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”
Arrogance, envy, covetousness, and selfishness are the sinful motivators behind “wars and fights.” So long as sin exists in this world, there will continue to be “wars and fights” in this world.
Why We Should Remember Our Veterans.
President Herbert Hoover said, “Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.”
A slightly less prestigious individual named George Carlin said, “War is rich old men protecting their property by sending middle-class and lower-class young men off to die.”
Our veterans fought in wars that they didn’t start, and yet, they were the ones whose lives were on the line.
Many served in the military because they cared about their country and protecting the people they loved. They were called upon to serve, and they stepped up and did their job.
Many of our veterans live with the scars from their service. Some have physical scars, while others have emotional or mental scars.
Our veterans sacrificed years of their lives - and the freedom to do what they wanted to do in life so that others (like you and me) could continue to have that freedom.
People like that should be remembered and honored.
I’ve had multiple family members serve in the U.S. military.
At least one of my great-grandfathers served during World War II. A grandfather served in Vietnam. One of my uncles served in the military as well. I’m thankful for their service - as well as the service of all of our military!
Reading about many different wars and how terrible they were always makes me long for the day when there will be no more sin and no more war.
That’s just another one of the many comforts that belong to the Christian when Jesus returns to take us home (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Well said. It's unfortunate not all peoples can read this article!
Wars come from evil hearts filled with greed.