A THREE DAY WEEKEND

If I were to ask the young people why they are out of school tomorrow,” would they know the answer? If I asked the adults why they (some of them) are off work and some businesses are closed, could they give me the answer? Living in a military community, I am sure that many of you know that today, Sunday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day. Tomorrow is a day off for many in celebration of this day.

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

An Act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

We enjoy many freedoms in this country. Among them is the freedom to assemble here this morning to worship our Almighty God. You have heard it said many times “Freedom is not free.” Individuals serving in our military forces through the years have made great sacrifices and paid a great price to protect our freedom and trying to extend similar freedom to others. Thousands upon thousands have made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives. The least we can do is to take a day to honor them. We have several veterans, as well as active duty personnel, in our membership. Take a moment to tell them “Thank you.”
--Lamar