Remembering Armistice Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we mark Armistice day, to commemorate the end of World War I and the service of armed forces. In America, the holiday is called Veteran’s Day and has evolved into a remembrance day for veterans of all American wars, as well as a national holiday.

In November of 1918, the toll of World War I had reached an unbearable high. Under threat of countryside rebellion, German forces sought a meeting with the Allied forces to hammer out a peace treaty. Famously, the treaty was made effective at 11 a.m on 11 November, giving it the interesting historic distinction of being ratified at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The treaty ended fighting on the Western Front, an agreement that would be confirmed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Nearly one year later, King George V of the United Kingdom made Armistice Day, also called Remembrance Day, a national holiday to honour the veterans of the armed forces. Other participating countries quickly joined suit. Memorial traditions sprung up throughout the nations, including visiting the graves of soldiers killed in the war, and holding parades, concerts and events in honour of veterans.


Many countries have adopted the tradition of wearing poppies or decorating graves with the flowers on Armistice Day. The origin of this mode of remembrance traces back to a famous poem about the war by Scottish soldier and veteran John McCrae, called “In Flanders Field.” The first line of the poem mentions poppies growing over the graves of soldiers, and the verse became one of the most famous memorials of the war. Even today, some refer to Armistice Day as Poppy Day, and many people wear a pin with real or artificial flowers on the holiday.

As Armistice Day initially was meant to memorialize and honor fighters in World War I, the holiday has grown and expanded as the world has undergone more wars. After World War II, the United States changed the name of the official holiday to Veteran’s Day, in addition to the long standing American Memorial Day, held in May each year. Many of the traditions in the United Kingdom that were originally part of Armistice Day observances are now celebrated on the nearby Remembrance Sunday, held the second Sunday of each November.

In 1918, the world had never seen a war as devastating as the conflict wracking Europe. Forty million of the world’s citizens died during the war, many due to battle, and many more to disease and bad conditions. Armistice Day was the first dawning of hope for Europe for many years, and is deservedly remembered as a great human triumph. Although the results of the treaties led to further strife and may have contributed to later conflicts, the world was given a long pause in which to recover, regroup and rebuild. The veterans of World War I fought in a bloody and unimaginable war, and their service is still greatly appreciated by millions nearly a century later.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.