U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day as November 11, 1919. The United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting the President issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. The 11th of November is"a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'." It was later changed to Veteran's Day.
I love to read mysteries that reflect regions and holidays, so I'm reposting last year's blog about Veteran's Day with a few additions. Julia Spencer-Fleming's latest novel One Was a Soldier, Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd's mystery series are at the top of my list of Veteran's Day Mysteries. BV Lawson's 2007 post of Veteran's Day Mysteries is great. No need for me to duplicate her efforts. Be sure and read her blog, as well as all the comments. Another fine list is In Remembrance Fiction in Times of War (not all mysteries) from the St. Charles Public Library. I also did a Memorial Day blog here on Mystery Fanfare that covers some of the same territory. Mysteries in Paradise about Remembrance Day is also a great resource.
Wikipedia has an entry about Veteran's Day Mysteries. Several hardboiled heroes have been war veterans . H. C. McNeile (Sapper)'s Bulldog Drummond from World War I, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and many others from World War II, and John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee from the Korean War. The frequent exposure to death and hardship often leads to a cynical and callous attitude as well as a character trait known today as post-traumatic stress characterizes many hardboiled protagonists.
Mystery Readers Journal will be having a Military Mysteries theme in 2012. I'm sure I'll have many more additions for next year's post. Authors who write military mysteries are invited to write an author! author! essay.
Read a Veteran's Day mystery today and remember the men and women who fought (and are fighting) for world peace.
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