RSS
Home
World commemorates Armistice Day; U.S. honors troops with Veterans Day
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second right, and French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, third right, lay a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier to commemorate Armistice Day.
Many nations around the world on Wednesday are commemorating those who gave their lives in wars. Although many nations honor the veterans of many wars on this day, the day was initially created in 1919 to commemorate the signing of the armistice which ended World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
This year marks the 91st anniversary of the day set aside to remember those who fought and fell in war. Depending of the country, this day is known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day or Poppy Day.
In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II and governmental and military officials attended a ceremony at Westminster Abby in which a two-minute silence was observed. The final three World War I veterans from Great Britain died this past year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a ceremony with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Merkel is the first German Chancellor to recognize the day.
President Sarkozy stated after the ceremony to Chancellor Merkel, “Your presence among us on this November 11th is a gesture of exceptional friendship - every French person knows how significant it is.” In response, Merkel said, “Both dates, the end of the First World War, and the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall, remind us that we must always fight for the invaluable goods of peace and freedom, that we need to defend our values, of democracy and human rights, and that we keep working for European solidarity and partnership with America. That is our task.”
Sarkozy added that the day does not commemorate the victory for one country over another, but rather a day which acknowledges the loss of many soldiers on both sides.
In the United States the day was changed to Veterans Day after World War II and honors the military veterans of all the wars in which the United States has fought. President Barack Obama will observe the day in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Troops from several nations who are serving in Afghanistan and U.S. troops in Iraq also observed the day.
Copyright © 2009 by Raymond Gellner
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
