Wednesday, November 11, 1998

A last salute is offered to WWI veterans

This Veterans Day is special. It marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a four-year slaughter that worldwide consumed the lives of more than 8.5 million soldiers.

And it marks the last landmark date - in the sense that we celebrate anniversaries in five- and 10-year increments - that we will have World War I veterans around to remember the War to End All Wars.

Just last week, a small obituary noted the death of Joseph Schwartz in a VA hospital at 98. He was the national commander of the Veterans of World War I, a dwindling organization whose members' average age is closing in on 100.

The United States mustered a military of 4.7 million for World War I. The Veterans Administration says that, as of August, 4,800 remained alive, although the number is now assuredly less.

The Great War, as it was known until another came along only 21 years later, is quickly receding into history. It is closer to the Mexican War or to the Civil War than it is to us today. For the last 44 years we have observed Veterans Day, instead of its original designation as Armistice Day, to honor all veterans.

We live with the consequences of that war still. American intervention turned the tide for the exhausted Allies and thrust the United States into its first role as a world leader. We also learned a valuable lesson from the crushing and punitive peace terms imposed on Germany. When the United States was in a position to dictate the surrender terms of World War II, it did so in generous, magnanimous terms that made friends and allies of our one-time enemies.

We properly honor all veterans today, but we should especially salute the surviving victors of World War I. We will not have that honor much longer.