Today, as we pause on what used to be called Armistice Day, we are called to reflect on the end of the massive devastation that was World War I. That war took almost 10 million military lives and cost over $200 billion in 1913 US dollars. The United States changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor those of the military who lost their lives in all of our conflicts. And those who died deserve to be honored. However, the change from Armistice Day to Veterans Day loses the impact of war on the civilian populations. In World War 1, almost 7 million civilians died and most of the economic costs were borne by civilians, directly or indirectly.
In the Ukraine, a similar process is occurring. It can be heard during the ongoing indiscriminate missile and drone attacks on civilian targets. It can be seen with the memorials on the houses destroyed in land combat. It can be learned by from people whose family members were trapped in their homes during Russian occupation. War happens to ALL the people in a country at war.
While we pause to remember Veterans Day, please remember to keep the innocent people of the Ukraine, Gaza/Lebanon/Israel and all the countries at war in your prayers.
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