Nov 11, Armistice Day

I was surprised to learn that we share the "Veteran's Day" remberance with the English. They call it remberance day and they honor veterans of WWI and WWII at 11:00am on Nov. 11th. This year the Queen dedicated a memorial to New Zealand for the 1800 soldiers they lost in WWI and I can't remember the number in WWI but the % was very high. Very few people lived in New Zealand during those wars. Anyway, the memorial looks a little odd on TV, but I am sure it is cool in person. The design includes chards of metal sticking out of a grassy mound with some sort of insignia on each one... I will try to get to see it in person. Anyway, people wear these cute little red poppy lapel pins that old people sell for some charity. It is good to know that we aren't the only ones who appreciate what our veterans have done for us and the rest of the world. (of course, England, Ireland and Europe have way more veterans than we ever thought to have... hello... the Crusades!! oh I could go back to BC with the list.

Anyway, a very cool thing, my cousin shared a piece from letters that my Grandfather wrote to my Grandmother on Armistice Day, Nov 12, 1918, while he is was stationed in France... this true history, albeit my Grandfather's opinion...

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

November 12, 1918
My Dear Annie,
The old French expression “C’est la guerre” will soon have to sink into oblivion, for the Armistice has been signed and Germany given thirty days notice to sign a peace treaty or have their country devastated the same as they themselves ruined Belgium and Northern France; and no one can conceive of the German people, who, at last, are free agents, wishing to renew hostilities.

Last Saturday night the news reached here that the Armistice was about to be signed, and everyone was excited as only the French can and, from then on, until 11 o’clock yesterday morning, thousands upon thousands lined the streets in front of the News Agency anxiously awaiting some more news, but nothing encouraging came over the wires until about 10 o’clock yesterday when it was announced that the Armistice had been signed and at 11 all fighting would stop. Then the fun commenced and I don’t expect to see such a sight again if I live to be eighty years of age. Everyone nearly went crazy.

Men, women and children were running around kissing each other and shouting, “Vive l’France, Vive l’Amerique”, and waving flags and, every once in a while, a bunch would get together and sing the Marseillaise. Our band started to parade through the streets but they were nearly taken off their feet and, in an hour or so, they returned looking as if the battle of the Marne had been fought all over again. There was as at least four or five thousand people following them, and they surely went crazy when they got within the Headquarters grounds. It was an hour or more before the crowd could be dispersed. All the sirens and church bells and every other contrivance was utilized to make known the good news and it was impossible to talk, much less hear, so about 3p.m.we closed up the ‘shop’ and all went downtown. It was the greatest crowd I want to see, Americans, Frenchmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, Canadians, Algerians, Brazilians, Japanese, Russians, Greeks, Serbians, Belgians, Italians, Portuguese, Chinamen, and Lord knows how many more, all celebrating the downfall of one nation.

I guess every man, woman, and child in this city turned out, for it took us about an hour to walk four blocks. All the stores, restaurants, cafes etc. closed up and even the streetcars had to stop, for they could make no progress whatever
within the crowds.

Around six o’clock the crowd began to be more jubilant than ever, so, in order to show up favorably, about eight hundred of us marched in columns of squads all through the principal streets. We got the reception of our lives and we had no trouble in securing flags. Everybody was willing to give up theirs and, of course, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse them, so, at the end of the parade, every one of us had at least one flag. The streets were all decorated in bunting and flags and, to our delight; we found that the Stars and Stripes was second only to the Tricolor. These French surely appreciate us and, take it from me, they know how to celebrate. It was our first opportunity to be with them on such a day and, believe me, it will be long remembered. I thought the Fourth of July celebration was great, but it couldn’t hold a candle to this one.

No doubt the States went crazy also yesterday, but I don’t believe that they show it like these people. They are naturally excitable and, given the chance to show it, they can’t be beat. Of course they have much more to be thankful and joyful over than our folks, for it was their soil that was in danger of occupation by the enemy and, yesterday practically meant the ceasing of such dangers, as menaced their country for the last forty years, forever.

This armistice, of course, does not necessarily mean peace, but it is a long step toward that goal, and I don’t believe that the German people, now that they have the government in their own hands, will ever permit hostilities to break out again, for, if they do not accede to the allies’ demands now, nothing short of entire occupation of Germany will satisfy us. The peace conditions are hard pills to swallow, but it is their own medicine and they must accept them.

Who in this wide would could have foretold five months ago what was to happen yesterday? The end came about as quickly as the affair started, and to-night report has it that the Krons-prinz has been assassinated. Now how about the Kaiser?

Everything is going along the same as ever, and this morning found us back on the job as the last of our celebrations was last night, although the French extended the holiday to to-day.

I received your letters of Oct. 13th, 11th, and 10th last night upon my return and, as usual, I was glad to hear that you were all in good health and pray that this letter still finds you the same. We hear a great deal, over here, about the Spanish Flu in the States, but I hope that you and the folks will be spared the ordeal of this sickness. Some of the boys up the line have been hit pretty hard, but it seems to have been checked, thank God.

I also received your clipping showing the pictures of the crowd at Golden Gate Park on the day on which the big affair in which you participated took place. It surely reminded me of the good old days of a year or so ago, but I hope that, before another year passes, I will be able to again look the old familiar spots over.

We are having some fine weather here and yesterday especially was warm for November. To-night it is a little cooler but just enough coolness to make the air fresh and brisk. Up north the weather has been rather cold, but nothing like that down here. Do you wonder why I consider myself so lucky?

Give everybody my best regards and tell them just because the war is almost ‘finis’ they shouldn’t think that no more letters are interesting. Keep us supplied with news and things will along better here.

Hoping that the peace which is about dawning will have risen in all its glory by the time that this letter reaches you (as we now have accomplished our purpose) and that you are all enjoying the of health, I will close.

As ever
Joe

Corp. J. A. Bosque

Pretty cool, this was written almost 90 years ago... he was so descriptive.