Veterans Day, Armistice Day, St. Martin's Day

Three November 11th traditions remind us that peace is not the mere absence of war, but the presence of men willing to fight for the good.

A crowd of thousands massed on Broad Street, New York, near a replica of the Statue of Liberty, to cheer as news of the armistice was announced to the public.

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by Rod D. Martin
November 11, 2025

November 11th, a single square on the calendar, carries three names and three lessons for the modern West. Veterans Day, honoring those who fought for our Republic. Armistice Day, marking the end of the First World War, so cataclysmic its survivors called it simply The Great War. And St. Martin’s Day (or Martinmas), an ancient Christian feast commemorating Martin of Tours — the Roman soldier who laid down his sword for Christ and spent the rest of his life fighting a greater battle for souls.

Three observances. One date. One truth: civilization survives because virtuous men step forward to bear its burdens.

The …