Veterans Day (Armistice Day) Honors the Sacrifice of Millions

Veterans Day is the current name for Armistice Day, a holiday that was first celebrated 90 years ago. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne, France, for the cessation of hostilities in Europe in World War I. Symbolically, the armistice took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.

Unfortunately, hostilities continued in other regions, especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old Ottoman Empire.

It's hard to imagine that World War I involved 35 countries. World War I lasted five years, from 1914 to 1918. The United States only fought from 1917 to 1918.

This date is also a national holiday in many of allied nations who participated in World War I. This day in Poland is called Polish Independence Day. After World War II, it was changed to Veterans Day in the United States and to Remembrance Day in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Armistice Day is an official holiday in France.

Today, Veterans Day in the U.S commemorates veterans and those who were killed in all wars since World War I. It is especially appropriate this year, when the U.S. and some of its allies are still fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To honor Veterans Day and the World War I Armistice that initiated it, assign students to research some aspect of World War I provided in SIRS Decade topics below:

Pathfinder 1: Click the 1910 icon > "World War I--America Moves Toward War"
Pathfinder 2: Click the 1910 icon > "World War I--Reactions Against the War"
Pathfinder 3: Click the 1910 icon > "World War I--Uncle Sam Needs You"
Pathfinder 4: Click the 1910 icon > "World War I--When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
Pathfinder 5: Click the 1910 icon > "World War I--Women and the War Effort"

Assign students to create a written report of at least 150 words that cites at least three resources for each topic; or students can prepare an optional PowerPoint presentation of at least two minutes and seven slides. Students should address the Document Based Question included with the topic they choose.

Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.

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