For the fourth year, Veterans For Peace honors the original intent of Armistice Day, now called Veterans Day, with a ringing of bells at Auburn First United Methodist Church on Saturday.

Veterans For Peace joins others for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony that will include a short statement on Armistice Day, the ringing of the bells, a moment of silence and some songs and poems commemorating the spirit of the day. The church is at 100 N St. SE.

After the ceremony, Veterans for Peace chapters of Washington state will march in the Auburn Veterans Day Parade for the 11th consecutive year.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the guns finally fell silent on the Western Front, ending the slaughter of World War I, which took the lives of 17 million people. In November 1919 President Wilson signed a proclamation commemorating the end of the war, which stated “the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride for those who died in the country’s service ….”

In 1926 the U.S. Congress passed a resolution, stating “it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations. …”

On May 13, 1938 Congress made Nov. 11 a legal holiday, celebrated as Armistice Day and dedicated to the cause of world peace and honoring veterans. In 1954, at the urging of veterans service organizations, notably the American Legion, the 1938 act was amended, striking out “Armistice” and substituting “Veterans,” making Veterans Day a day to honor veterans.

For more information, contact Dan Gilman, president of Veterans For Peace, Greater Seattle Chapter, at 206 499-0226, or dhgilman@outlook.com.