Veterans Day was formerly Armistice Day which was proclaimed by Woodrow Wilson in 1919. It commemorated the end of World War I, “the war to end all wars”, which fell on the 11th hour of the 11th day of 11th month of 1918.
In 1938, Congress declared Armistice Day a legal holiday. It called it “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”
In 1954, Congress changed the name of Armistice Day and designated November 11 henceforth as ‘Veterans Day’.
Imagine if the war to end all wars had actually ended all wars. Today, on this Veteran’s Day, let’s try to imagine exactly that.
Imagine there is no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You, you may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You, you may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one
– John Lennon, 1940 -1980
Meighan Morrison 