Today is November 11th, Veterans Day. And while some are celebrating the day off from school or work, I’d like to remind everyone what today is about.

For those of you who don’t know the full story, here is a brief explanation of why we honor today as Remembrance day.

Once upon a time there was the war to end all wars, World War 1. It was a horrible war, involving dozens of countries. Take a look at this map to see just how much of the world was involved in WWI.

The Great War, as it is often called, officially ended when Germany signed the Armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The following year (1919 for those of you who don’t follow history too closely), President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th to be Armistice Day honoring the veterans who served during World War 1.

Almost twenty years later (May of 1938), November 11th was declared an official holiday known as Armistice Day in honor of the ending of the Great War. Sixteen years later in 1954, the day was officially changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans, not just those from WWI.

Today, I will be giving a call to my father (who is a Vietnam Veteran), my uncle (who is also a Vietnam Vet) and my younger brother (who is an Iraq War Veteran). Also today I will be thanking God for bringing my family members home safely from their wars and asking Him to keep our active military members safe from harm and to help bring peace to the families who have lost loved ones to wars.

As you are celebrating your day off today, please take a moment to thank a veteran. Whether you agree with our current war or not, remember you have the ability to oppose this war because of a veteran.

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