As I sit here with the day off due to Veteran’s Day, it is important to remember that this holiday started out as something different.
In Europe, November 11th is remembered as Armistice Day, recognizing the “symbolic” end of World War I in Europe, an often forgotten war in these days of “Saving Private Ryan,” “Band of Brothers,” and the like. The “War to End All Wars” did no such thing, but it is important to remember nonetheless.
It all started in 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. It ended with over 10 million total casualties and the reshaping of Europe. It also indirectly led to the rise of power of Adolf Hitler in Germany and World War II, though we thought that we were doing something right.
The United States did not enter the war until May 3, 1917, but is largely credited with aiding the French Army to victory along the Western front of the war. The U.S. lost “only” around 116,000 troops during this war, which is a third of the deaths suffered by the U.S. during WWII.
Please do not forget those veterans who served, and are currently serving, in the Armed Forces. Without them, the world would be a different place. For information on how you can help, click here and do your part.
Robert Writes About... 
I also thought that Veteran’s day was to be remembered on the11th hour on the 11th day of the 11 month, but everyone was to return to work at noon. The time was meant to honor those who has served, and we go back to work to honor those who gave us the oppurtunity to work and all that.I oculd be wrong…as I have never really seen this happen.
I got the full day off, plus a half day on Wednesday, but you are correct about the eleven things. The armistice was actually signed at 11:11am on 11/11/1918. But a lot of people don’t know/care about stupid little things like that.
I got the full day off too…and there was no complaint from me! I spent theday reading Harry Potter…not really a veteran’s day-ish event, but it was about a war…