As US Marks Veterans Day, Ex-WWII Soldier Fears Youth Failing to Learn From History

On 11 November, the United States observes Veterans Day, which the US Congress set aside as a legal public holiday honouring all Americans who've served in the military. In addition, the date marks the end of World War I in 1918.

"The big problem is that history is no longer taught properly in the schools. When forgotten, the same mistakes are made again", said Cohn, 96, who fought against the Nazis in Europe and participated in a historic meeting between US and Soviet troops on the Elbe River in Germany in April 1945.

Some middle schools, Cohn added, are focused on history, but it is not a general trend.

World War II veteran Frank Cohn at the Arlington National Cemetery

Children, for example, he said are not familiar with terms or phrases associated with the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour such as "a day that will live in infamy". He also said young people are not familiar with D-Day, when the Allied forces landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 in addition to VE Day (Victory over Nazi Germany in Europe) and VJ Day (Victory Over Japan).

"That is not a good thing", he warned.

On 25 April 1945, Soviet and US troops met on the Elbe River near the town of Torgau, Germany. The meeting was a key milestone in the process of ending World War II and came about as US troops advanced from the west and Soviet troops advanced from the east, thus splitting Nazi Germany in two.

The veteran noted that he always celebrates Veterans Day by commemorating his fallen comrades. Usually, he goes to Arlington Cemetery near Washington, DC, to participate in wreath laying ceremonies in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but this time has had to skip it due to health issues.

Recruits leave for front during mobilization, June 23, 1941

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"Veterans Day has always been a sad holiday for me while others enjoy the time off or go shopping. I could never fit into that mood, but to each his own", he said.

Cohn welcomed the US administration's efforts to help veterans but noted that some minor improvements still can be made.

"If anyone was neglected, I guess it was the Vietnam veterans, but people have come around so that pretty much now, there seems to be no longer a distinction - we are all veterans", he said.

The veteran admitted that he does not know how to avoid wars in the future.

"The way to beat a Hitler would be to clobber him when he first starts. However, in a democracy, such actions will not work for us, and then when he gains strength it becomes a big deal", Cohn said.