Today is Veteran’s Day. This is an almost forgotten event and yet it deserves as much attention at Memorial Day. Some of our European allies value it more than we do, but I will get to that in a minute.

Veteran’s Day began as Armistice Day. As “The Great War” (which we today call World War I) was winding down, there was a need to designate an official time for the end of hostilities. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting actually ended seven months earlier. The armistice ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month in 1918. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson designed November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day.

Unfortunately, World War I was not the war to end all wars. By 1954, Congress amended the previous legislation by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” This day is set aside to honor all American veterans of all wars.

We can learn something from how other countries honor this day. A number of years ago, I was in London’s Heathrow airport on Veterans’ Day. They announced over the loudspeakers that there would be silence at 11 AM. I was a bit skeptical about how obedient the passengers would be. I was surprised. When time came to stop and reflect, the airport was absolutely quiet for a minute or so. We can learn something from the British and their reverence for their war dead.

What can we do this day to honor those who have served us? You might want to visit a military cemetery and put flags on graves. I have been to military cemeteries in Hawaii and the Philippines and have seen what is done there. We need to do the same back home. Those of you who live near the nation’s capitol might visit one of the memorials for veterans. You might encourage your local school to participate in the “Take a Veteran to School Day.” Students need to see veterans and hear their stories of service.

Take an opportunity today to honor veterans, and thank anyone you know who has served this country.