Armistice Day all about peace
Today is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I
At 11 a.m. today, Veterans Day, church bells across New Mexico will be rung 11 times. Here is the reason why:
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day. On Nov. 11, 1918, bells worldwide were rung to celebrate and recognize the end of World War I. The First World War lasted from July 1914 until November 1918 and remains one of the largest and deadliest conflicts in history. More than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died. Another 20 million were wounded. For the next 35 years, bells were rung on each Nov.
11 to commemorate the international pledge of peace that followed the “war to end all wars.”
In 1938, the U.S. government passed legislation making Nov. 11 a federal holiday, declaring “it shall be a day dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day was commemorated until 1954, when it was renamed Veterans Day. Nov. 11 has since become a day to honor American veterans of all conflicts, but the ringing of bells in memory of lost souls and as a commitment to peace has been largely forgotten in Veterans
Day ceremonies. Instead, Veterans Day has become a holiday to celebrate military strength and sacrifice, entirely eliminating the holiday’s origins in avoiding war by committing to peace.
We must forever remember that military personnel pay a horrific price for war. They place their jobs, studies, families and dreams on hold for an uncertain future. Some don’t return alive. Too many return with broken bodies, scarred minds and fractured spirits. We also must never forget the civilians who are injured or killed in war. In today’s conflicts, the number of civilians injured or killed now far exceeds the number of military casualties.
Veterans for Peace chapters across the country are working to restore the Armistice Day ideals to Veterans Day, and this year we have been joined by state, county and city governments. Gov. Susana Martinez; the Bernalillo County Commission, proposed by Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins; and the Albuquerque City Council, proposed by Counselor Diane Gibson, have issued proclamations recognizing the 100-year anniversary.
At this year’s Veterans Day/Armistice Day ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque, a bell will be rung at the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” to commemorate the Armistice. By ringing the bell, we are honoring all military and civilian victims of war, recognizing the sacrifice of veterans and active military service members, and remembering the importance of peace. The 200-pound bell, on loan from the UNM Alumni Letterman’s Association, will be rung by the Donald and Sally-Alice Thompson Chapter of Veterans for Peace at the ceremony presented by the United Veterans Council of New Mexico.
We invite all churches and everyone interested in remembering Armistice Day, a rededication to peace, to join us by ringing a bell 11 times at 11 a.m. today.
Kris Hardy, Captain, U.S. Air Force 1996-2007, is an post-9/11 Veteran, former AFRL Research Scientist and graduate of the US Air Force Academy. Charles Powell, Airman First Class (Sgt.), U.S. Air Force 1961-65, is a Cold War/Vietnamera Veteran and Electrical Power Production Specialist who was assigned to a Titan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launch crew.