The First Armistice
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www.boonecountyjournal.com In Our 18th Year 815-544-4430 The Boone County Journal Nov. 8th., 2013 1 FREE COUNTY LOCAL NEWS, OPINION & HISTORY Real Journalism for a Real Democracy www.boonecountyjournal.com Published Every Friday • November 8th., 2013 • Vol 18 • Issue 28 No. 912 Hungary declared war on July 28. By July 30 dwarfed in scale according to the number of The First Germany had mobilized their army and that move deaths and casualties by World War I. was followed by France mobilizing their army In an actual point, the designation of Armistice Armistice Day by August 2 when Germany invading Belgium. Day was set to recognize the signing of the By James Middleton World War I had begun. armistice that ended the war. However, those that Initially the war involved only European forces sought to create the national holiday also thought The celebration, if recognition of the end of a as America observed a policy of isolationism. of expanding the recognition to remember those war could be called a “celebration,” was designed Even though allied forces that included Great soldiers that were lost in all prior wars. to occur when the peace accords were signed in Britain, France, Romania, Russia, Italy, The first such celebration of Armistice Day Compiègne, France marking an end to the “War Yugoslavia and Belgium, America refused to occurred in Britain when King George V hosted a to End all Wars.” The peace accords that ended participate. Canada was also involved and many banquet for the President of the French Republic World War I occurred during the eleventh hour of Americans marched into Canada to participate the evening hours of November 10, 1919. The the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 in rejection of the isolationist policy that was next day another celebration occurred on the and would be recognized every year following as espoused by then President Woodrow Wilson. grounds of Buckingham Palace. “Armistice Day.” The War raged across the European Continent The event held the title, Armistice Day until The photograph shown here came from from July 28, 1914 until November 11, 1918. after World War II when the title of the holiday Herman Tanner and shows a gathering of people Eventually American “dough-boys” were seduced was changed to Veteran’s Day. In 2012, Armistice in downtown Belvidere on November 11, 1918. into joining Allied Forces that did overcome the Day was recognized as a national holiday in On that day in Belvidere it appears as if the sun combined German, Austria-Hungarian, Ottoman Serbia where the fuse was lit that ignited the was shining. An autumn breeze whipped the and Bulgaria forces. After meetings in Paris that world to wage World War I. patriotic flags that were wafting in the air but, extended over the following six months after In many parts of the world, an actual Veteran’s why wouldn’t a crowd gather? Peace had been the armistice was signed, the despised “Treaty Day or Armistice Day celebration does not occur reached, the news had been delivered and the of Versailles” was signed on June 28, 1919 but rather, a moment of silence is recognized world that had been ravaged by years of war that between the “Allied and Associated Powers” and during that 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th was World War I was quiet. Germany. The Allied and Associated Powers month. For some in the world, Armistice Day is The incident that started the War was so arcane, included the United States, Britain, France, Italy recognized instead as “Remembrance Day.” so odd as to imagine that a global conflict that and Japan and many historians believe that this Recognizing and remembering those that destroyed nations could have resulted. Treaty sowed the seeds of what would explode “gave of their last full measure of devotion,” to The match that lit the fuse of war was struck by into World War II little more than 20 years later. cite President Abraham Lincoln, has become an a Bosnian-Serb student, Gavrilo Princip who on It could be argued that the international effects activity and an event that has grown in acceptance June 28, 1914 assassinated the heir to the Austro- of World War I were of such magnitude as to move and popularity. Though the involvement of Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand citizens in those nations that suffered through the people in Veteran’s Day or “Armistice Day” of Austria. The murder occurred in Sarajevo horror of that war wanted to commemorate the commemorations has not become a universal Bosnia. For unexplained reasons, soon after end of that war and to recognize what resulted activity, but more people today than in recent the shots were fired diplomatic maneuvering from the effort. years choose to become involved in remembering occurred between Austria-Hungary, Germany, The result of fighting during World War I led, and celebrating those that have served and died. Russia, France and Britain to mollify what was by many historical accounts, to more than 16.5 The annual Veteran’s Day parade will march called the “July Crisis.” million total deaths. Such numbers of deaths through downtown Belvidere to commemorate Demands were announced and in response to and casualties had never been recognized. The the day and those that gave on Monday, November Serbia agreeing to eight of 10 demands, Austria- depth of these number was stunning and of such significance, the American Civil War was 2 Nov. 8th., 2013 The Boone County Journal 815-544-4430 In Our 18th Year www.boonecountyjournal.com Briefs continued from page...1 front of the Marine Corps barracks. 11. The parade participants will assemble that Because the Marines on guard were operating morning and the annual Veteran’s Day parade under the “Rules of Engagement” that manage will being at 9 a.m. in downtown Belvidere. how they respond, no shots were fired. Only The entire community is invited to attend and to one marine guard was able to load a round ready remember those who gave. for firing. At 6:22 a.m. the suicide bomber, an Join Culver’s Text Club for special The Journal wants to recognize and to thank Iranian national named Ismail Ascari detonated offers sent to your phone! Herman Tanner for allowing of the photograph the explosives in the rear of the truck and the shown here. We also want to recognize valuable building was incinerated along with the truck and research assistance that was obtained from those around where the truck came to a halt. TEXT: CULVERS83 multiple web addresses that are affiliated with One individual that witnessed the incident and Wikipedia.com the “Internet Encyclopedia.” survived, Eric Hammel reported, “The force of TO: 50101 the explosion initially lifted the entire four-story For a FREE Scoop and structure, shearing the bases of the concrete weekly specials!! 30-Years, After support columns, each measuring 15-feet in By James Middleton circumference and reinforced by numerous one and three-quarter-inch steel rods. The airborne Culver’s of Belvidere Those that witnessed the event reported that building then fell upon itself. A massive shock 1635 Big Thunder Blvd. they remembered the explosion and the resultant wave and ball of flaming gas was hurled in all Across from Shopko trembling of the earth. They saw the smoke and directions.” soot that resulted after the ignition. But, what Less than 10-minutes later a second suicide struck many witnesses was the telltale smell left bomb attack occurred at the French 3rd Company behind when the bomb exploded. One’s sense of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment. When Advertise in the of smell carries perhaps a stronger and more the truck raced onto that site French Marines Boone County Journal memorable impact than one’s sense of hearing or opened fire killing the driver but moments later their reaction to the earth trembling beneath their the truck was detonated. This attack was reported Call Dena 815-544-4430 feet. to have been the worst involving French Marines Little more than a week before the recognition since the Algerian War in 1962. of Veteran’s Day we have reason to remember a Rescue and recovery operations continued for day that resulted in an incident that caused the the Americans and French until October 28, 1983 death of the largest number of American soldiers when those operations were suspended. since World War II and fighting on the island of Then President Ronald Reagan had been NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY advised against sending troops to Beirut by his TAX INCREASE FOR BOONE Iwo Jima. The terrorist attack that occurred in COUNTY Beirut took place on October 23, 1983. Secretary of Defense, Casper Weinberger but the order was sent anyway. Later after some I. A public hearing to approve a proposed retaliatory efforts were executed by the French tax levy increase for the County of Boone and American forces, by February 7, 1984 for Fiscal Year 2014 will be held on President Reagan ordered the Marines to begin November 20, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. At the their withdrawal from Beirut. That withdrawal Boone County Administration Campus Board Room. Any person desiring to was completed on February 26, 1984. appear at the public hearing and present Not long after the barracks attack occurred, testimony to the taxing district may contact President Reagan ordered a military fact-finding Bob Walberg, Boone County Board mission to investigate how the incident happened Chairman, 1212 Logan Avenue, Belvidere, and how future incidents could be prevented. An Il 61008, (815)547-4770 article that appeared in Foreign Policy magazine II.