11-11

The commemoration was first called Armistice Day in honor of the signed armistice that ended World War I, the so-called "war to end all wars" (a task at which it failed miserably). As time went on, the United States broadened the day to include veterans of all wars. While Memorial Day remembers those who have given their lives for their country, Veterans Day commemorates those who served and survived, though not all of them in one piece.

Since we're in the middle of an active war, it's only natural that our attention should first go to those who have served and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we should remember all those who have served. I don't know if any World War I veterans are still alive, but our attention should go back to them and every member of the Armed Forces who has served since. They've given us their service, so the least we can do is give them our respect. Perhaps, as Nico at Think Progress points out, Congressional Republicans can keep that in mind while they're preventing veterans service organizations from addressing a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees.