On Veterans Day, Remembering the Roots of World War I

Last year, I happened to be traveling in the United Kingdom with my family on Remembrance Day (November 11). The day marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended the carnage of World War I. In America, we typically call it Veterans Day. Unfortunately, most Americans don't appear to think very much about the day, except perhaps as a break from school or their job (if they happen to work for the government or a bank).

In England, by contrast, people seem to treat November 11 a lot more se...