The First World War nominally ended on November 11th. First celebrated as Armistice Day. It became Remembrance Day for the Commonwealth to honor those who had fallen. In the United States where Memorial Day already commemorated those who died defending our country it became Veteran’s Day to also honor the veterans who came home.
Lord Grey, the British Foreign Minister described the beginning of the war as "The lamps are going out in Europe". The immediate costs in dead and treasure of this ultimately pointless war were horrific. The horror of the trenches scarred the psyche of the Western world. The resulting despair allowed political movements to come to influence and power, which have changed for the worse Western culture, the holocaust and gulag being just the tip of the iceburg. Too many of the lamps are still out.
It is a hard truth that this is an especially appropriate day to remember our veterans living and dead. One of the very few bright spots were the solders and sailors whose dedication, loyalty, and valor shamed the politicians and “statesman” who sent them to war. They should always be remembered.
But also we need to remember that in other wars it was this same dedication and valor that bought our Freedom and Liberty, certainly against the forces released as a result of the First World War.
Enjoy the holiday, but remember to think of and pray for those who served.
Labels:WWI and Veterans Day posts
10 months ago
1 comment:
"this ultimately pointless war"
From the British point of view it was not "pointless". The butcher's bill was enormous but likely prospect which would have followed German hegemony in Europe and at sea made it grimly necessary to pay the price - in my opinion.
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