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Armistice Day - My Grandfather was There

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Meet Ray Farrell, the son of a widowed Irish immigrant who came to the United States to escape the potato famine in Ireland.  

Ray FarrellThe armistice ending World War I might not have been signed at the Palace d'Versaille on November 11, 1918, if it were not for him and the men he led. Their role was less prominent than that of the top negotiators, but it was a key factor in securing the peace.

A little world history refresher:

Negotiations for ending World War I began in January 1918, with 70 delegates from 27 nations participating, excluding the defeated nations of Germany, Hungary and Austria - and Russia, who had negotiated their own treaty.  Each participant had its own agenda, and discussions were often quite heated.  For example,

  • French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau wanted to cripple Germany economically, politically and militarily so they could never invade France again.
  • Britain's Prime Minister David Lloyd George supported reparations, but to a lesser extent than the French, and sought compensation for the many widows, orphans and men crippled during the war and unable to work.
  • U.S. delegate Edward Mandell House sought to extricate the U.S. from European affairs while encouraging a Germany that would be a strong trading partner in the future.  And, I might add, President Wilson excluded the Republicans in Congress from any policy discussons regarding
    these negotiations.

Okay, back to my story...

Ray Farrell was the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Allied War Council, a shorthand reporter himself, in charge of all the shorthand reporters who created a record of the procedings for participating nations (and history).  In 1918, there were no audio recording devices, so every session was painstakingly recorded with pencil in shorthand notes, and later transcribed and reconciled by those shorthand reporters.

When a final product finally evolved, calling for fighting to end on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Ray Farrell devised a plan for securely communicating the armistice back home to the United States for Congressional approval.  He divided the document into several small sections and transmitted each separately by telegraph.

For example, one transmission might include line 10 from several pages, so it would make no sense to anyone who intercepted it.  However, when collated with another transmission that included line 9 and yet another including line 11...

In the end, Congress did not ratify the Treaty because of their objections to forming a League of Nations, but they did approve the armistice which ended fighting on November 11.

On the first anniversary of the armistice ending World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation expressing pride in the heroism of those who had fought during the war.  All business stopped and two minutes of silence was observed, beginning at 11 am.  Several states made Armistice Day a state holiday in the 1920's and 30's, and Congress declared it a federal holiday in 1938.  Then, in 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor those who served in World War II and Korea.  Today, all veterans are honored on November 11.

Many thanks to the Real Estate Shows for the "Instant" Show, which I modified with a few different pictures and different text.  You made it very easy for me to get started, but I had to include the Navy since I'm just a half hour from the U.S. Naval Academy (not to mention I'm married to a retired Navy Captain.)

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (17)

William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Margaret, What a wonderful article ( I didn't call this a post) and something you obviously have both the correct information on and also some genuine family pride. Wonderful and a real pleasure to read.

PS, When I first read this, the RES was a little box with a dot in it and when I clicked on comments the RES was back. Very nice.

Nov 10, 2008 02:43 PM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

This is too strange - my grandparents were Ferrel - and we had a photo very similar to this one - I am going to have to go check grandpa's foot locker - but on task - thanks for sharing your story, your family and I appreciate their service

Nov 10, 2008 02:50 PM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

I salute Ray Farrell and ALL the men and women who have served this country. God bless America and GBU~

Nov 10, 2008 04:39 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

William, thank you for the nice compliment.  I'm betting we all have stories of family members that had some small role in getting our country where it is today, whether it's a military story or one about an entrepreneur, or activisit, or ???

Thesa - 'hope you share your photo and maybe a story to go with it...

Elizabeth - Here, here.  I toast to that!  Wait, where's my champagne?

Nov 10, 2008 10:10 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Margaret-wonderful post!  Today is the day to honor all of the wonderful men and women who serve and have served.  You know where I'll be later today.

Nov 10, 2008 10:44 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Cindy, I would like to go there myself, but my husband and I are babysitting 9-month old grandson Jack.  Come to think of it, we'll be in Arlington and it's a nice day, maybe we'll load him athose nd his stroller into the car and head over to Arlington Cemetary.  Here's to your husband, Cindi, and all who bravely served our country.

Shall we reschedule for next week?

Nov 10, 2008 10:49 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Great show, Margaret. I just left mine the way it was...........too busy. But, this is fantastic.

Nov 11, 2008 01:15 AM
Lee & Pamela St. Peter
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices YSU Realty: (919) 645-2522 - Raleigh, NC
Making Connections to Success in Real Estate

Margaret what a beautiful tribute!  Thanks for sharing - and today we pray for all who have served our country in the years gone by - and for those serving us today.  May God keep them from harms way and bring them safely home when their work is done.

Your Raleigh Realtors 

Nov 11, 2008 01:31 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Margaret - each year as we remember my fervent prayer is that the day will soon come when we no longer have to send our young people to stand in harms way.

Nov 11, 2008 02:13 AM
James Wexler
wexzilla.com - Scottsdale, AZ

Margaret - great tribute and a well desertved tribute and Kathy said it best ,I hope the day comes when our troops can stay at home with their families

Nov 11, 2008 02:53 AM
Harold "Hal" Place
A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

Hi Margaret,

Thanks for taking the time to pay tribute. We are having services of sorts all day today here in our community to honor our Veterans.

Nov 11, 2008 03:04 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Hal - It's a beautiful day here for outdoor ceremonies.  Hope you have one, too.

James, I agree!

Kathy, The truth is, that's the mission of every generation of military personnel.

Lee & Pamela - Amen

Missy - 'Glad you liked it.

Nov 11, 2008 04:57 AM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA

Margaret - What a great history lesson. I love learning things I didn't know before. Thank you.

Nov 11, 2008 05:49 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Margaret what a nice tribute to your grandfather. A very interesting story as well. My has the mode of communication changed:)

Nov 11, 2008 07:11 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Margaret,
Your video show was outstanding!  A great way to remember and honor your Grandfather.

Nov 11, 2008 10:53 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

NIce tribute and post.  We all owe a lot to our fathers and grandfathers, all the men and women who had a part in past conflicts.

Nov 11, 2008 12:53 PM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Thank goodness they left Ireland and came to America.  Otherwise, he would have supported and possibly assisted the Germans like so many of the Irish did in both WW1 and WW2. 

 

Nov 11, 2019 06:44 AM