The First World War officially ended more than 80
years ago, in 1918 (Armistice Day). Hostilities ended on the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. More than
595,000 Canadians enlisted, of whom 422,000 served
overseas. Following the Second World War, `Armistice Day?
was changed to `Remembrance Day which commemorates
all the Canadian women and men who died in the Boer War,
WWI and WWII, the Korean War, and in other actions with
the United Nations.
Canada now has its own Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Canada. In May 2000, the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in the First World War was buried in a special tomb in front of the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
| "To Honor
veterans of All Wars"
An answer to
the dilemma of how to pay tribute to those who had served
in all wars: Change Armistice Day to Veterans Day,
President Eisenhower, in 1954, signed the bill
proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day, and he called
for Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the
cause of peace.
On May 30, 1958, two more unidentified American war dead
were brought to Arlington Cemetery from overseas and
interred in the plaza beside their Comrade of World War
I. One was killed in World War II, the other in Korea. A
law passed in 1973 provided for the interment of an
unknown American who lost his life in Southeast Asia
during the Vietnam era. For several years no qualifying
remains were discovered so a memorial plaque was placed
in the Amphitheater's Memorial Display Room. On Memorial
Day 1984, however, the Unknown Serviceman from that
conflict was placed "In Honored Glory"
Alongside his fellow countrymen.
To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave
their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, The 3d
United States Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and
night vigil.
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