Veterans Worldwide Take a Bow

Veterans are getting their well-deserved due today as the world pauses to honor former soldiers this Veteran's Day.

This year marks the 91st anniversary of the signing of the armistice deal between the Germans and the Allies, which ended the prolonged and bloody first World War. For decades, World War I veterans have featured prominently in Veteran's Day events, but in many areas it's the first year when there are no longer any surviving WWI vets left to honor. That loss was seemed particularly poignant in England, which said goodbye to its three remaining WWI vets, William Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch, this year.

But that certainly did not stop the Queen of England from paying her respects to former members of the British military. Queen Elizabeth II joined senior politicians and heads of the armed forces at a ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey to commemorate those lost in WWI. The event also included the traditional two-minute silence to honor past war dead, reports CNN.

France and Germany symbolically joined forces for a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This comes just two days after Germans marked another historic milestone, the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall crumbling.

In Australia, citizens marked the day with a nationwide minute of silence for war dead at 11 a.m. Why? "Their loss is a reminder that there is nothing glorious about war," said Gen. Peter Cosgrove, chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial. "Those called upon to fight know that better than anyone."

And lest we forget the good ol' US of A, President Barack Obama is commemorating fallen soldiers by participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Most kids are off school, but as Darragh Worland already told you, their teachers are helping them learn about the significance of the national holiday. Additionally, there are parades, dedications, salutes and gestures large and small to honor veterans everywhere for literally putting their lives on the line in the name of country.

Photo courtesy of Petaholmes via Wikimedia Commons.