Peace at the 11th Hour Tribune Nov 11 - 56 Since 1954 November 11, the anniversary of the armistice in World War I, has been observed as Veterans Day, rather than Armistice Day, a day officially declared by Congress as “dedicated to world peace.” And this is a particularly good time for Americans to be observing a day dedicated to such a cause. The peace of the world today is more gravely threatened than it has been since a truce stilled the guns in Korea. The timing of the World War I armistice, which fixed this day in history, is regarded as significant because peace was attained as significant because peace was attained on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. This may be of significance today, for this could be the 11th hour for the nations and peoples of the world to preserve the peace, the attainment of which in all wars is observed this day. This is something to which our prayers during the traditional moment of silence at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day should be directed. Peace and its celebration and preservation is not, of course, the whole purpose of Veterans’ Day. This is an occasion too for honoring all those fought in the wars in which this country has been engaged. We could wish that there had been fewer such wars, of less magnitude. But there have been four of them within the memory of many now living, from the Spanish-American War through two World Wars and including the Korean War. And they have shaken this country to its foundations, affecting the lives of millions upon millions of its people in greater or less degree. Over half a million died in these four wars and more than a million were wounded. Nearly half of American adult males saw service in these wars. There are still living today 55,000 veterans of the Spanish-American War, 3,040,000 World War I veterans, 15,360,000 veterans of World War II and 3,980,000 veterans of the Korean fighting, all told 22,435,000 veterans. As we pay honor today to these millions who helped to preserve this nation and the principles of freedom and justice for which it stands, let us hope that no for many years, if ever again, will it be necessary to add new millions of Americans war veterans to these 22,435,000.