Veterans' Day

Today I have spent a lot of time watching the wind blowing snow outside my window. It has been a quiet day, and  I have been thinking about some of the men and women I have known who served in the military - or are serving now. Many of those I have read or written about as part of Cabot's history. So many wars, so many lives lost, so many dedicated men and women keeping us safe.  

I think sometimes we forget the true significance of special days such as this. Originally, what we recognize today as "Veteran's Day" was "Armistice Day," when the agreement to end World War I went into effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. That ended the terrible war on the Western front in Europe that had taken such a toll of lives on both sides. Unites States lost over 116,000 men in that war; the total lives lost including civilians was in the millions. November 11th was not officially recognized as "Armistice Day" in America until 1926. Some called it "Remembrance Day."  At the time it was thought that World War I would be "the war to end all wars." That didn't happen. After WWII, Armistice Day was celebrated as "Veterans' Day,"  butit wasn't made official until 1954 when Congress passed a bill that President Eisenhower signed into law. Today there are brief ceremonies, some public businesses close, and some observe a few moments of silence at ll a.m. We remember wars, remember those who have served or are serving, and pray that someday there will be no more wars. Our veterans deserve to be remembered for their sacrifices in defending us and our country.