Armistice Day 2010: Will You Remember?

In Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man--located between Ireland and England--where it's six hours later than here--the citizens are serious about remembering Armistice (Veterans) Day.  This morning, former military service members met and marched to the war memorial where commemoration services were held. At 11:00, two minutes of silence were observed in honor of the Armistice, the official end of World War I-- the war to end all wars. Motorists on the Isle of Man were asked to cooperate fully by stopping their cars and turning off their engines from 11:00 until 11:02 AM. Further commemorations are scheduled for later today.

Armistice Day, now called Veterans Day in the United States,  is still observed by some in remembrance of the eleventh hour, of the 11th day, of the eleventh year, when the great Armistice was signed. While we have failed to end war, the dream of a world without conflict continues to stir hope in the hearts of man.

Will 11:00 this morning find you standing at attention for one minute facing East? Encourage a few friends at work to join you in this traditional American remembrance of the fallen, in memory and in hope.

(Link to Armistice Day Speech by WW II General Omar Bradley)
(Link to color photos of World War I)
(Previous Armistice Posts)

The photo, above, is from the great photography pages of the Los Angeles Times.  A visit to their website is as valuable as a visit to any worthwhile museum.

Armistice: Veteran's Day Remembers the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month - 1918

The Armistice, which took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, marked the end of World War I, the "war to end all wars." Veteran's Day--before it became a long weekend--was known as Armistice Day. and was always observed November 11.

This Saturday, November 11, will you be standing at 11 am, facing East toward France, in memory of fallen Americans, as our parents and grandparents did? It is a tradition that should not be forgotten. World War I cost thousands of American lives, young men willing to die because they knew that the cost of freedom is never free.

Pictured above is the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, established on October 14, 1918 in an area captured by the US 32nd Division. It now contains the graves of 14,246, including 486 unknown soldiers. Panels on the Memorial Chapel walls record the names of a further 954 missing. The white marble crosses or Stars of David record the unit details of each casualty and their State. As a comparison the World War II D-Day Landings Cemetery in Normandy contains 9,386 graves.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the final offensive of World War I. It was the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in that war. The offensive took place in the Verdun Sector, immediately north and northwest of the town of Verdun, between September 26 - November 11,1918. It was launched as part of Marshall Ferdinand Foch's Grand Offensive, comprising attacks by the AEF and French Fourth Army on Septemer 26, the British Fourth Army on September 27, the British and Belgians at Ypres on September 28. These operations led to a general advance along most of the Western Front, resulting in the German Army's final defeat and the signing of an armistice on November 11 to bring hostilities between the allies and central powers to an end.

Further information on the Cemetery

France Remembers (Choose Entrer dans le site, then Diaporama for World War I Photos)

Photo Gallery - Reims to Verdun

Help the VFW

Update: A supporter of the Royal British Legion blog has left a link to their Remembrance podcast in the comments. It is a very short and moving program which you should hear. Click here to hear the memorial.

11-11-11: Standing, Facing East, in Memory of the Armistice

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

Armistice Day, Veteran's Day, both appear to be forgotten amidst news stories that 11-11-11 will be marked by an unusually high number of weddings due to what is viewed as a lucky date or number.  Will no one stand and face East at 11 AM today in memory of the Armistice? In a society little interested in duty and honor, it is not surprising that there is such limited regard for this historic day.

11-11-11 2008: Armistice Day Remembered

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

--by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

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It is the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day. America has largely forgotten that moment of silence, observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the eleventh month while standing and facing East, in memory of the fallen. Many do remember that the price of freedom is never free, and today we honor the selfless sacrifice of thousands of Americans who gave their all for the Land of the Free.

Armistice - 11 AM 11/11/1918

It was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice took effect, and the Great War in Europe officially ended. People celebrated in the streets and President Wilson of the United States declared that all draft calls were cancelled.

Even today, on the day now known as Veteran's Day, some will be standing at attention at 11am, facing East, to remember.