Brussels, Belgium was the front door for World War I, and I lived there for three years in high school. Virtually every battle on the famed Western Front was, at most, a few hours away by car, giving me the opportunity to learn about not only WWI but also World War II—as many of those battles were also in the region, most notably the Ardennes = home to the Battle of the Bulge. Prior to living in Belgium, we lived in New York, close to the Boston Post Road (the main highway connecting New England to New York and Philadelphia). Prior to that, we lived outside Philadelphia near Valley Forge where General Washington and the Continental Army encamped, and not far from Gettysburg, perhaps the most famous battle site on American soil
I spent many years growing up close to historical battlefields where world history would be determined: American Revolution, American Civil War and World Wars One and Two. Of these, perhaps the most grotesque war in terms of carnage and death was the First World War, which transitioned 19th Century and 20th Century warfare. Calvary charges out of the 19th Century battle plans were easily cut down by 20th Century machine guns. Advances in physics and chemistry resulted in the production and delivery of mustard gas on the enemy. Lagging behind the advances in weaponry were advances in medicine and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians died of disease. This was to be the war to end all wars, the world collided and when it was over was to become reconciled to avoid future conflagrations involving most of the “modern world.”
In Europe every child learns the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month; for that told of when the Armistice was signed between Germany and the Western Allies bringing an end to the war in Europe. Peace was at hand and was to last for many generations. November 11, 1918 was celebrated throughout Western Europe as the day that peace was created. When the war was over the Western Powers pulled out the globe and carved up the world into spheres of influence—peace was at hand.
In 1938 legislation passed that declared November 11th “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” One year later Hitler’s Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II. Citing the Armistice of 1918 as one of many grievances for the German people, Hitler used what he and many other Germans considered an unjust peace to rise to power.
Following victory in World War II and a truce in the Korean War, in 1954 Congress amended the 1938 Act and replaced “Armistice” with “Veterans” and November 11th became a day to honor Veterans of all wars. Fourteen years later, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Congress created confusion by creating a Uniform Holiday Bill creating three day weekends for Federal Employees celebrating Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day; Veterans Day was to be celebrated on the last Monday of October. The first Veterans Day holiday was celebrated in 1971 on October 25, 1971.
Many states did not like the move to October for the holiday and continued to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, adding significant confusion as to what offices were open and which were not on which days. In 1975 President Ford signed a law returning observance of Veterans Day to November 11th annually. There are ten Federal Holidays, only four are fixed to a specific date each year and do not float on a Monday: New Year’s Day; Independence Day, Veterans Day and Christmas.
It is very appropriate that Veterans Day is so close to Election Day. One honors our Veterans who have fought to defend our Constitution and Liberty, the other is when we choose those who will command future Veterans and those in government responsible for upholding our Constitution. Of the forty-three Presidents sworn into office, thirty-one have served in the military. Beginning with General Washington, our country has a long history of electing those with military experience to be our Commander-In-Chiefs; though as seen this year and also in 1996 being a military hero does not guarantee being elected.
On this, the 70th Anniversary of Armistice Day, and the 90th Anniversary of the end of the war to end all wars, our nation has one veteran of that war still living. Frank Buckles is 107 years old and began his service in 1917 at age sixteen. During World War II Buckles was a civilian working for a private shipping company in the Philippines and was captured by the Japanese; he served three years in a prison camp before being rescued.
Long Beach has a very long history with Veterans. A Navy town for decades, how many hundreds of thousands of sailors took shore leave at the old Pike, visited the Plunge or rode the Cyclone. During World War II, Korea and Vietnam, how many thousands touched American soil for the last time when they shipped off from our harbor. How many hundreds of thousands touched American soil for the first time upon their return from war when their ships came to port in Long Beach. Our neighborhoods are filled with Veterans who returned from war and purchased homes for their families using their Veterans benefits. Veterans are to Long Beach what cowboys are to Abilene.
I spent my childhood growing up visiting battlefields and historical sites, trying to envision the men and uniforms and weapons of embattled for a greater cause, fighting for America and freedom. As I grew older some of my peers became Veterans, and I would meet men and women who served in one of the branches of our military. Living in Long Beach it often occurs to me that there are perhaps a disproportionate number of Veterans in our area, Veterans who left Abilene, or Dubuque or St. Louis to serve their country and upon completion of their service found themselves in this wonderful city and decided to stay. Always I have, to my knowledge, treated these men and women with respect and gratitude for what they have done and I have not with their service; I know I am not alone as the overwhelming majority of Americans do as well. As we should.
To our Veterans, thank you.
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