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Eleventh hour, eleventh day, eleventh month: honoring our commitement to seeking peace
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World War One, "The War to End All Wars", officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting had ceased seven months earlier with an armistice (truce) between the Allied Nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 Armistice Day. In June 1926, the U.S. Congress officially recognized November 11 with the following three proclaimations:
From: The United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
By an act of Congress, November 11 became a legal holiday in the U.S., still called Armistice Day. In 1954, President Dwight David Eisenhower signed a law into that Congress had passed reforming the 1938 legislation, changing the holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day, honoring American veterans of all wars. In 1968 a law was passed to change many public holidays into three-day weekends, and this took away from the spirit of the November 11 holiday. First enacted in 1971, it was celebrated on different dates until 1978 when the law was changed to conform to the original spirit of celebrating the November 11th date. From that date on, Veteran’s Day has been celebrated at the eleventh hour of he eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable place
This year there has been a worldwide movement to pray for peace and meditate on love and balance for the whole Planet. This event is also taking place at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Given the great distress that we are suffering as a planet and the heavy toll war is taking on those who serve in the military, their families, and the rest of society who are torn between wanting to support our men and women in service and our desire to find lasting peace, it could not hurt to all take some time on this holiday to unite in prayer, meditation, reflection, thought, or consideration for how we could be more kind, loving, and supportive of those in our lives.
From “The War to End All Wars” we entered a century of one war right after the other, and there is a great deal of healing that needs to be done. The recent tragic violent acts at Ft. Hood, Texas, the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the veterans and family members who still suffer from wars fought over the last sixty plus years, remind us how deeply we are affected by violence, war, terrorism, and various forms of oppression. It is important that we work together to support one another and build a more peaceful planet. Whatever way you spend the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, do so with all your fellow human beings in mind, the health and well being of all the planet, and our common bond as human beings. We are complex beings living through complicated times, and the simple acts of love, respect, forgiveness, and gratitude can do much to bring about healing.
