On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, the world stopped as the armistice was signed ending “the war to end all wars” in 1918. That was 100 years ago Sunday, the conclusion of World War I.

A century later, DeKalb countians and their veterans from wars dating back to World War II again stopped, reflected and remembered, giving thanks for the sacrifice made by those who have served in defense of their country.

“This veteran’s day has a great significance,” revealed keynote speaker Richard Buford of American Legion Post #46 as he spoke before a large audience Friday at the Veteran’s Day observance at the county complex. “It marks the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I and the fiftieth anniversary of the Vietnam War.”

Buford gave the audience a background on how Veteran’s Day got to be what it is today/

“Veteran’s Day, what does it mean?” Buford posed. “It was first called Armistice Day, a celebration of the people who served in the Great War, the War to end all wars. World War I.”

Buford said Armistice Day began five years after the end of World War I and that in 1954 Congress changed the day’s name to Veteran’s Day to honor all who had served.

Buford noted that World War I led to the beginning of the American Legion when Congress, in 1919, provided for its establishment. There were over 556,000 veterans who joined the group, the first convention featuring World War I hero, Alvin C. York. Over 12,000 veterans marched down the street of Minneapolis, Minnesota during the convention despite it being 12 below zero that day.

Buford lamented that the American Legion has suffered a great deal of loses in recent years. “The American Legion is the largest service organization in the world that supports veterans,” he pointed out, noting the numbers are dwindling. “Across the county, our American Legion posts are dying for this simple reason. At the end of World War II, 97 percent of our veterans joined the American Legion. After the Gulf War, it’s three percent.”

He said that public perception is also not helping the American Legion. “The perception of the public is that the American Legion is a place where veterans get together and drink and the women play Bingo. The American Legion is almost a hundred years old and we have almost four million members.”

Buford suggested people get involved in helping rebuild the Legion, noting anyone who is a decent of a male serviceman can join the Legion while any female descendant can join the Auxiliary.

Following Buford’s pointed address, those in attendance moved downtown and laid a wreath at the memorial. Prior to his taking stage, the audience heard concerts by the high school chorus and band.