Why was Armistice Day turned into Veterans Day (in '54 I think)? Is it because of our (America’s) warlike nature? What was the politial reasoning behind changing it (I’m thinking Cold War equation of pacifism with antiamericanism). Why would we turn a holiday for peace into a holiday for killers (read “veterans” if you must)? Don’t the vets already have Memorial Day?
i thought arministice day was a holiday for war. Ah well who really cares about these holidays? It ranks up there with the 100 catholic saint holidays.
And we have a candidate for the “Turning a relevant debate into a flame war” award. MonkeyMan, that little nugget about “veterans=killers” is not the way to start a level-headed debate. Please keep a civil tongue about veterans, because there’s a bunch of posters out here who have an idea of the debts we owe these people, 'kay ?
Whew. That being out of the way: The question, however provocatively posted, is actually pretty good.
WAG: When Armistice Day was introduced, WWI was considered a unique event, almost a fluke. “The Great War”, right ?
However: after WWII, Korea and the beginning of the Cold War, it appeared that WWI was perhaps not that unique after all. So having the veterans from WWII and Korea to take part on November the 11th was a very logical idea - instead of celebrating VE-day, VJ-day etc.
And while ending a war is certainly always worth celebrating, the Versailles treaty is perhaps not the most successful example - after all, it contributed to the humiliation of Germany that in turn helped secure the corporal’s power base. Somewhat self-contradictory to be celebrating that exact event after WWII, IMHO.
Memorial day is for those who have fallen, right ? Not for veterans, if I’m correctly informed.
S. Norman
A good point, Norm, about the civil tongue, but I was trying to make a point about the shift from a holiday celebrating the ABSENCE of war to one celebrating the PARTICIPANTS in a war.
Another good point about the difficulty of celebrating the various V-days, but there’s no reason why Armistice Day couldn’t become associated with those days without changing its name or purpose. Certainly the word Armistice have their sources in a specific point in time, but the reason for celebration can be expanded with the developments of history.
As for the treaty of Versailles, I imagine the celebration was for the end of the war, not the punishment of the losers. It was called “Armistice Day” rather than “Treaty Day”.
What I’m really wondering (and hoping wasn’t too obscure in the OP) is “why was it changed when it was changed?” Veteran’s day was instituted in 1954 (and I assume Armistice day had been observed since 1918), nearly a decade after WWII. Was there a reason to change the feeling (for lack of better word) of the holiday? Veteran’s Day seems more “war-friendly” than Armistice Day, so can the change advise our understanding about a shift in priorities or interests (for instance)?
On further consideration I realize I should withdraw the veterans = killers statement before it does cause trouble here. More of an IMHO debate anyway, and not one that should overshadow this one.
Personally, I still refer to it as Armistice Day. A day celebrating peace at the hands of the military means more (in my opinion) than a day celebrating those in the military themselves. Let me explain: the military exists to defend the country and inhabitants thereof, either directly or indirectly. The end of war is the GOAL of the military; it means they’ve done the job and done it right. I like to celebrate that. The fallen are mourned on Memorial Day, and the living (or merely successful) are honored on Armistice Day…where’s the harm in that? I honor the veterans themselves by making sure I get to the polls every time there’s an election. Hundreds of thousands of people have fought and bled and died for my right to go to the polls; I can think of no better way to honor them.
[Moderator Hat ON]
If you are asking “Why was Armistice Day changed to Veteran’s Day?” this is a General Question. I’m moving it there, but please try to keep this from turning into a debate or a flamewar with comments about veterans being killers or somesuch.
[Moderator Hat OFF]
Short version: “Armistice Day” was created to commemorate the cessation of hostilities in the War To End All Wars. Since that war didn’t quite work out as advertised, the date was kept but the definition was expanded to commemorate all of those who have served in the defense of our country.
According to a web page I found at http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/Veterans.html
the people of Emporia, Kansas changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day in their city in 1953 and their local Congressman lobbied to change the name of the holiday for 1954.
While we’re at it, when and why did Canada (and the UK too, I believe) change the name to Remembrance Day?
Stop me, I’m on a roll.
http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/issuegway/Remembrance/remembrance.htm
It was in 1931 in Canada and it was the veterans who asked for the change.
Thanks for the links, BobT. Good to get some more information than “my understanding is…”
quoting from linked article Veterans.htlm
So there has been a shift, and not the one I thought! It’s interesting that the unpopularity of the war in Vietnam would force a less celebratory attitude (I am assuming this is the reason for the shift in emphasis mentioned above. It’s more interesting (to me in any case) that there is that bit about “avoidance of future wars”. I had been bothered by the seeming absence of this aspect in the holiday, and am pleased that the US embassy to Stockholm sees it as being present.
As far as the verbiage goes, I much prefer the term Remembrance Day to Veterans Day. Of course it would be confusing to have both a “remembrance” and a “memorial” day, but I personally would prefer to observe a day of remembrance than a day of soldiery (notice my careful tiptoing around my beliefs on the morality of that soldiery. Civil tongue, civil tongue). The word “remembrance” is vague enough that those who want to remember the battles our heroes fought for our freedom may do so, while I may remember that
The Canadians have the advantage of not having a Memorial Day, but instead a Victoria Day the weekend before Memorial Day I believe.
I always think of Memorial Day as a Civil War holiday and Veterans Day as a World War I holiday.
I don’t think any US state celebrates the end of World War II except Rhode Island. I’ve been told by Rhode Islanders that they have the holiday because they like having a holiday in August.
As good a reason as any, I guess.