In America, we call it Veteran’s Day- but it most of the rest of the world, today is known as Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day. Originally it commemorated the end of World War I, “on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month”, in 1918. Almost all allied nations declared November 11 a holiday, to commemorate and remember the soldiers who fell in battle in what was then the worst war the world had ever seen.

Of course, since then, we’ve seen atrocities and unimaginable human suffering in the wars that came after the “war to end all wars” which is what was originally imagined about World War I. Yet there have always been soldiers, men and women who were willing to follow their convictions, stand for what they believed was true and good, despite whatever internal struggle they might have had, and offer their lives to a cause greater than themselves. A great deal of the peace and freedom we live in today is due to the sacrifices of those who were willing to do so. All gave some, some gave all.

Around the world today, rolling across international lines with the sun, at 11 a.m, there will be a 2 minute observation on silence. Please take those minutes to stop, and offer a prayer or give silent gratitude for the greatness of the human spirit and the sacrifice thereof, and know that they fought and died for you.