Armistice Day in Le Puy

It was a gray day today. Not too cold but no wind. At 10:30 a.m. people gathered in Place du Martouret to commemorate the dead of two world wars that devastated this country and two generations of its people. Today is Armistice Day.


Military officers, gendarmes, city officials, police, and fire fighters joined local citizens in forming a circle in the square in between the city hall and the Memorial Tree. This tree was planted as a war memorial after World War I. Different representatives placed wreaths of blue-white-red flowers before it.

Veterans proudly held flags representing their various military associations.








There were speeches of remembrance by various military and local leaders. They talked about the bravery and courage of the soldiers and the need to remember them and their sacrifice for the freedom of the people.

It was moving to see the size of the crowd that attended the ceremony. It was also moving to witness the presence of young people who participated as readers, scouts, and Red Cross volunteers. Below they are carrying one of the flower wreaths and accompanied by the mayor and other dignitaries of the town.

Most towns have a war memorial in the center square. In fact, 36,000 memorials were erected in France between 1920-25 with the inscription "à nos morts" (to our dead). You can also see war memorial plaques in churches with the same inscription. Every year on the morning of November 11, mayors, local authorities and military officials pay tribute to the fallen of both world wars. 

In Paris, Armistice Day ceremonies take place at the Arc de Triomph. The President lays a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. followed by two minutes of silence: the first minute is for soldiers and civilians who died and the second is for the bereaved families left behind. The eternal Flame of Remembrance is rekindled by the President as it is every evening at 6:30 p.m. by associations of war veterans throughout the year. Below is a video of President Macron and his participation in the Armistice ceremonies in Paris.

La Der Des Der

The warring parties agreed to a ceasefire to come into effect at 11 am on 11 November 1918: “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”.

World War I was originally called The World War or The Great War because it was believed to have been the war to end all wars—right up until World War II began. In French, this belief was immortalized in the expression "la der des der," a double apocope of la dernière (guerre) des derrières (guerres), meaning "the war to end all wars."

While the sentiment and will were heartfelt and serious, somehow the world has been unable to keep its commitment. WWI ended in 1918 and WWII began in 1939. Scores of wars all over the world have also broken out ever since--and people continue to hold memorial services for their dead. 

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities.  This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.

Veterans Day in the USA

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in 1919 with the following: 

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

 The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.


May the service of all those who fought in the wars--both the living and the dead--be remembered. And, may we continue to try to keep the peace so that the sacrifices these brave men and women made will not be in vain.