The Town Offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th, for Veterans Day.
Formally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day began as a commemoration of the end of “the war to end all wars” (WWI) with President Wilson in 1919, honoring the armistice called on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 which marked a cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany until the Treaty of Versailles officially ended the war in June the following year.
Though Wilson’s initial commemoration was a way to honor those who died in WWI and to observe the gratitude our nation carried for the victory, as well as a celebration of the opportunity America was given to “show her sympathy with peace and justice”, the aftermath of WWII and the Korean War saw President Eisenhower changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor American veterans–living or deceased–of all wars.
Today, nationwide observances include the official laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, wearing red poppies to raise funds for veterans’ service organizations–a call to this poem, memorializing the 1915 battle in Belgium’s Ypres Salient, and going to parades or other local celebrations.
Stratford takes this day to honor our veterans for their service and sacrifice, in war and in peacetime.