Armistice Day: Recommit to Peace

Bells worldwide were rung at the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, to celebrate the end of The Great War, the “war to end all wars.” That tradition continued annually for 35 years, until 1954 when Congress changed the name of the day to Veterans Day.

World War I was horrendous, with over 18 million killed. People worldwide were horrified at the vileness of the war, and they took hope in the promise that it had been “the war to end all wars.” However, revulsion at the brutality of war is not a sufficient foundation for peace. The outbreak of World War II, just twenty-one years later, is evidence of that. Eighty million died, and most of the dead were civilians.

If we want peace, we have to work for peace, and a good time to recommit to peace is on Armistice Day. Veterans For Peace #161 is sponsoring an Armistice Day Observance in Iowa City beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Ped Mall north of the entrance to the Graduate Hotel.

Ross Porch, bugler for Veterans For Peace, will sound Assembly at 10:35. John Jadryev, local VFP president will emcee and welcome all guests. David McCartney, recently retired Archivist at the University of Iowa, will be the featured speaker. Songs and poetry will be part of the observance. Eleven ringings of bells at 11 a.m. and the playing of taps will mark the end of the observance. Attendees will be invited to a social hour at the nearby Iowa City Public Library after the observance.

It is believed to be the only Armistice Day Observance in Iowa, and will feature Veterans For Peace members from around the state. The event is more than just a historical remembrance. It is an opportunity to remember and honor all victims of wars.

It is about today, as the world teeters on the edge of nuclear war and daily sees the horrors of “conventional” war and an epidemic of violence at home. We need to reverse the war momentum and take up the sweet burden of creating lasting peace. The Observance is free and open to the public. Further information is available at the website for Veterans For Peace #161, vfp161.org.

Ed Flaherty is secretary of Veterans For Peace Chapter #161.