It was called “The Great War,” not because it was good, but because it was big. Twenty million people had died. Less than twenty years later, an even greater war began. After that, it was called World War One.

Fighting officially ended with an Armistice, on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918. It was not a Peace Treaty. That would come a year later. And even though all sides had agreed to stop fighting, not everyone did. Several thousand men would die after the cease-fire. Human beings must like war, or we wouldn’t have so many of them.

Armistice Day- as it was called- would later be called “Remembrance Day.” Great Britain and her Commonwealth still call it Remembrance Day. Every year, at the exact moment of the armistice, two minutes of silence are observed. One minute for those who died; another for those who fought and lived. In the United States, we split the difference. One day- Memorial Day- for the dead; another day for all those who have served in uniform, Veterans Day. Today.

Here at Bishop Kelly we remember all staff, faculty and former students who have served our country in uniform. Some have given their lives in that uniform.

Since this school technically began 124 years ago, the United States has fought seven major wars and several minor ones. In that time, over 600 thousand Americans, mostly men, have been killed. Yet, wars continue. We have been “at war” continuously since 2001.

Some years ago, in 1997, I was asked to speak to the McCall Middle School students on Veterans Day. Those kids were then about 13 years old. During one of my presentations, an eerie feeling came over me as I was talking. I looked at these young students and had a premonition that they would one day be in war. Five years later, we were in Iraq. And some of those kids, now 18 years old, would be there too.

I got a letter from the 8^th graders saying what a hero I was for having been in Vietnam. I thought what nonsense. And I regretted if I had in any way presented war as an adventure. Some few do think that way. Mostly those who have never been to war. It is not an adventure. Despite treaties to the contrary, there are no rules in war. Innocent people die as well as soldiers. Counting civilians, over 200 million have died in the last century as a direct result of war. The actual number is known only to God, since so many people simply disappeared.

I’m not sure what the benefits of war are. Some people make a lot of money from wars. Territory passes back and forth, with arbitrary new boundaries drawn, even on the back of envelopes. In comparison to the millions who die, are wounded or displaced, only a very few make an enormous amount of money.

I believe in military service. It is a service to one’s nation. Young people have no part in the decision to go to war. Bu they, not the decision makers, are the ones who fight.

The nation is grateful for their service.

A hundred years ago, the First World War would be called “the war to end all wars.”

We know now that was not true. We could have an end to war, but it will require a different direction than we have taken before. For that new direction, we also offer our prayers today.

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