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Saturday, November 11, 2006

November 11th

Today is Veterans day. It dates from the end of the First World War when the Armistice that ended it went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Of course, even then war did not really end.

The Allies (including some U.S. regiments) were briefly involved in the conflict known as the Russian Civil War to cite only the most significant conflict that continued with the end of fighting on the "Western Front". There were other conflicts around the world.

Among the "enlightened democracies" of the time, however, it was believed that they could finally (after the horrors of the trenches) simply outlaw war.

Conflict continued, and indeed continues to this day.

While many would like to "Study war no more", the sheer fact is that you cannot stop studying war unless you are willing to surrender all you have to those who will "study war".

Over the decades since our Nation was founded, we have been blessed with a small minority of our population who has been willing to accept the disdain of the majority and place themselves between our homes and war's devastation.

It is right and proper that we should have a few days set aside to remember and honor these men, many of whom died lonely and painful deaths not just on the battlefields of the world, but in the prison camps of our enemies.

So have a picnic, see a movie, spend time with your friends in the peace and prosperity that is our country. But remember that a largely silent minority has suffered, sometimes long after the fighting of a particular war has ended, so that you could do so.

Give at least a few moments of your day to remember that largely nameless and faceless handful, and do your best to make sure that they did not suffer in vain.