Armistice Day was initially designated as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated.” But when political conditions at the end of the “Great War” inevitably led to World War II, Armistice Day was rebranded as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the U.S. Stripped of its original intention, November 11 became a day identified with war instead of peace – a day for remembering yet more war dead, honoring all veterans, and glorifying militarism.
As military veterans serving the cause of world peace, Veterans For Peace is a leader in lifting up the original intention of November 11 as a day for celebrating peace. Some Veterans For Peace chapters held annual Armistice Day commemorations for years before an official Veterans For Peace resolution made it a VFP national effort in 2008. By coordinating events held across the country, we insert our call for peace into the national conversation each Veterans Day.
Clearly, a day that celebrates peace, not war, is the best way to honor the sacrifices of those who have served in war. We know the destruction war has caused and continues to cause, and we understand its senseless futility. In reclaiming November 11 as Armistice Day, we call for an end to armed conflict and recommit ourselves to the hard work of building real and lasting peace.
