Veterans Day - November 11th

World War I - or as Pops used to say, "The Great War" - officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting had stopped seven months earlier when an armistice, (a temporary cessation of hostilities) between Allied forces and Germany, went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. That is the reason November 11, 1918 is often recognized as the end of "the war to end all wars."

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was the first to proclaim November 11th as Armistice Day in 1919. Congress in usual swift fashion passed the resolution seven years later on June 26, 1926. Finally on May 13, 1938 our nation recognized November 11th as a legal holiday. It was a day to remember the veterans of WW I and to celebrate peace. In 1953, after WW II and the Korean conflict, a store owner in Kansas had an idea to expand the idea of Armistice Day to recognize all veterans. On November 8, 1954 Congress replaced "Armistice" with "Veterans Day."

I write this to remind us of those who paid a price for us to enjoy what we have. Pops, my granddad, was one of those who valiantly served his country and fought in "The Great War." As a matter of fact his whole life was about hard work and serving. In nature we have a great example of sacrifice in the salmon. This fish works so hard to make its way upstream for the sole purpose of giving life to a new generation. I am proud of Pops. I am blessed because of him and so many like him who sacrificed for others. And today is a good day to remember them.

Swim upstream!

November 11, 2009