Celebrate Armistice or Veterans?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Lacking peace, he subconsciously longs for death. Having no peace, he thinks war is a reasonable activity.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Your thoughts are not like ours.
Good. If they were, how could we exist?
Your wisdom is not like ours.
Good. If it were, what would we know?
Your mercy is not like ours.
Good. If it were, what would we know of grace?
Your justice is not like ours.
Good. If it were, what would we know of freedom?
Your righteousness is not like ours.
Good. If it were, would we ever know joy?
Your peace is not like ours.
Good. If it were, would we ever know forgiveness?
Your love is not like ours.
Good. If it were, would we ever find true union?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Was my sermon too long?”

[I think a few people probably got up and left.. But, no, He never said this.]

D. Blog: Armistice Day

World War I involved 35 countries. It lasted five years, from 1914 to 1918. The US only fought from 1917 to 1918, but one year was more than enough time to claim too many lives, and people held tight to the notion that this was the very last war. When the fighting stopped, leaders of several countries signed an Armistice on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918.

This day was set aside to celebrate peace and to reflect and remember the sacrifices men and women made during World War I. The first official celebration was on November 11th, 1919. Veterans who survived the war marched in parades and were hometown heroes. World War I was called ‘the war to end all wars’ because everyone hoped there would never be another one.

Almost 20 years later, in 1938, Congress voted to make Armistice Day a federal holiday. Sadly, the very next year, in 1939, World War II began. This ended the talk of no more wars.

After World War II, Armistice Day was still celebrated on November 11th. Around 1953, people began calling it Veterans' Day. This was in thanks and remembrance to the veterans in their towns. No longer was it an observance to mark the achievement of peace, but of the sacrifices made by those who had gone to war. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th each year as Veterans' Day.

Personally, I wish we still had an Armistice Day. Memorial Day and July 4th are dominated by honoring veterans and those who died in wars. I think we would be well served by a day to honor the achievement of peace and the hope for an end to war.

[some adaptation from an article “The War to Begin all Wars” by Sarah Lane on www.classbrain.com]