The history of Veterans Day

    The end of WWI -- The Germans wanted to surrender on November 9, 1918 -- the Kaiser had abdicated and it was obvious they had lost the war. But a French general suggested they wait two more days and have the guns fall silent on the Western Front at exactly 11 AM, 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month -- very poetic, and certainly memorable. After all, this was called the "War to End All Wars," the world had learned its lesson and would never be stupid enough to do this again. Of course twenty years later the world was that stupid and we started numbering big ones. But we couldn't number all them little ones, and there were plenty of those, so after the Korean War, we felt kinda stupid to keep taking the day off for "Armistice Day," and the war to end all wars. President Eisenhower, a man who knew a thing or two about war after fighting in the two numbered ones, suggested that we change the name of the day to Veterans Day, to honor all those who have served their country. But I still spend that day thinking about the 10,000 men who died needlessly on November 10 & 11, 1918, just so we History teachers would have a good story to tell our students.