"In the eleventh hour of the eleventh day..."

....of the eleventh month," cannons and rifles and all guns stopped firing on the Western Front as fighting of World War I ended, which became known as Armistice Day.

Even as we Americans on Veterans Day honour our veterans of all our wars,

let us not forget all those who fought in all the wars of history, not just names of kings and generals, but foot soldiers who marched and fought and those that died, for some fought for right, and some for might, and many just to survive to see their lass's eyes light, for foot soldiers sore, maybe not for Richard III who fought for pride and died, and definitely not for Nazi death camp guards with terrible secrets to hide, but for all who fought and will fight forever more in the good fights and morally ambivalent wars, for the widows and orphans and those who suffer the loss, for those on each Remembrance Day let us pray.

[ the November 11th armistice has been considered the conclusion of “the war to end all wars.”  Little did they know…

The following November…1919…President Woodrow Wilson dedicated the 11th day of the month as “Armistice Day,” stating “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 the nations…”

According to the Veterans Affairs web site, an act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13, 1938 making “the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.”] http://naplesherald.com/2015/11/11/the-11th-hour-of-the-11th-day-of-the-11th-month-the-origin-of-veterans-day/ 

Edwin N. Hagstgrom, my friend, Viet Nam or Second Indochinese War veteran, wounded at Khe Sanh:  http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/712730/Hagstrom-Edwin.php