November 11th is Veterans’ Day in the United States, a day to remember those who served in this nation’s armed forces, and to honor the sacrifice of those who perished in the service of their country.
The observance is not limited to the United States—most countries that were involved in the First World War commemorate this day. That’s because November 11, 1918, marks the day on which an Armistice signed by the Allied powers and Germany went into effect, ending the bloody conflict that was, at the time, called “the War To End All Wars.”
This rosy sentiment notwithstanding, since the end of the First World War, not one single decade passed that was not shaped by a war. Be it conflicts in Korea and Indochina, in South Asia or the Balkans, battles in North Africa and the Middle East or the largest, bloodiest conflict of them all—the Second World War—American soldiers have fought and died, side by side with our allies, to defend our common homelands, our people, our ideals.
“Since the first volley of gunfire in the Revolution, brave Americans in every generation have answered the call of duty and won victory for freedom in its hour of need,” said President Donald Trump. “Today, a new generation of American patriots are fighting to win the battle against terrorism -- risking their lives to protect our citizens from an enemy that uses the murder of innocents to wage war on humanity itself.”
Today, we remember those who stood up and defended not only America and its people, but those of other nations as well. Today, we honor the sacrifice of those men and women who fought and lost their lives across all wars, on every continent.
"We can never replace them," said President Trump. "We can never repay them. But we can always remember. And today, that is what we are doing -- we remember."
