Thursday, November 11^th will mark the 103^rd year of the end of World War I. Within a year of the end of that war, the United States began commemorating the 11^th as a day to recognize veterans from the conflict. Over time, the holiday grew to encompass and honor all American veterans—living and dead—from all wars in our history. Why do Americans commemorate veterans, and what role do these memorials play in our civil society?