At the 11th hour of the 11th day of November 1918, the Armistice was signed, marking the end of fighting on the Western Front of the First World War. From that event, we have what is now commonly called Veterans Day, which is being observed as customary today on Nov. 11.
J.T. Travis, commander of the Ellis B. Ordway American Legion Post 111, says this year’s service at the Veterans’ Memorial at Mapleview Cemetery will center on those men who fought in World War I.
“We’ve lost all of them now,” Travis said. “But we wanted to make them our theme.”
World War II veterans will be given time to speak about their memories of those men who fought in the Great War before them.
“It was a noble effort. They called it the war to end all wars,” Travis said.
The annual legion service will be held at the 11th hour to commemorate the Armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France.
The Mapleview service includes the Boy Scouts, Taps and a brief program by local veterans.
Crittenden County School District will also host a Veterans Day celebration starting at 8:30 a.m., at Rocket Arena.
The event will include a program and reception for veterans. The public is invited to the attend the event. For information, contact Holly White at 965-3525 or Teresa Marshall at 965-5221.
