Ninety years ago today, at 11 a.m., an armistice was signed between Germany and the Allied nations, ending World War I. That war was described as the “war to end all wars.” It was another sign of humankind’s folly to believe in such things, especially in light of scripture, which tells us there will be “wars and rumors of war” until Jesus comes again.

It was the armistice that Hitler used as one of his motivating props to grab power in Germany less than two decades later. Hitler said Germany had been humiliated in the peace agreement, which was signed in a train car in France. It was one of the reasons Hitler wanted to occupy France to redress his sense of grievance.

Few of us know anyone on the military these days and that is a shame. Soldiers help keep us free from other soldiers and nations that would take away our liberties. The world is a dangerous place and never more so than now. All wars are terrible, but if we were to lose our freedom, that would be even more terrible. Thanks to those who fought and died in World War I and in all of our wars. They, “who more than self their country loved.”

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.