Most Americans know (I hope) that Veterans Day was originally set aside as the day to remember the end of the first world war. Major fighting in that war ended with the signing of the Armistice on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. Since then it has become a day to honor and remember all U.S. military veterans. Visit www.kirtasbooks.com and search “armistice day” for a book titled An Address Delivered on Armistice day at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It hasn’t been digitized yet, so it’s a great candidate for Invest in Knowledge!
More than two centuries ago, November 11th was a significant date for another reason; the signing of the Treaty of Canandaigua between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and Timothy Pickering, who signed on behalf of President George Washington and the United States of America. The Treaty was signed on November 11, 1794 in Canandaigua, N.Y., just a short drive down the road from our Kirtas headquarters here in Victor.
The treaty, which is still actively recognized by the United States and the Six Nations, established peace and friendship between the two governments and affirmed land rights for the Iroquois in the state of New York and boundaries established by the Phelps and Gorham Purchase of 1788.
Every year on this date the city of Canandaigua recognizes the importance of the signing of this treaty with a ceremony at the site of the signing. You can learn more by visiting http://www.ganondagan.org/CanandaiguaTreaty.html
You should also check out www.kirtasbooks.com and search for titles with the word “iroquois” or “indian”; there’s a lot of great stuff you can find!