Veterans Day, a day in which we remember and celebrate all of those who have served in our nation’s military, began as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. For the College of William & Mary, 1918 was remarkable in numerous ways: the first women were admitted to the College, the Student’s Army Training Corps was founded, and World War I ended. In the 1919 Colonial Echo, the end of World War I was memorialized with poems and a list of those William & Mary alums who died during the war. In its timeline of the first year of women at the College, entitled “The Co-eds’ Calendar,” the entry for November 11, 1918 simply says “Peace declared, and a celebration at the gym.” More information about the first year of women at the College of William & Mary can be found at Mary Comes to the College with William.
Through the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC) based at William and Mary, male students could enlist in the military and still attend college with government-paid tuition. The Corps became such a central feature on campus that it became common for an Army bugle to signal the end of classes. The SATC booklet "Taps," which is available online through the William & Mary Digital Archive, described the moment the news came that war was over:
“The sun had long since set behind the western hills and all the world was hushed. The silence seemed to foretell of some momentous event. The atmosphere, even in the deadly silence, seemed to ring with excitement. Suddenly there burst forth a blasting of horns, blowing of whistles, ringing of bells, firing of guns, beating of drums, and on every hand torches leaped into flame.”
A spontaneous parade through Williamsburg broke out, led by a student on horseback, with students carrying flags and shouting with joy. It culminated in a bonfire on the campus of the College. A few weeks later, the Students’ Army Training Corps disbanded, but not before having a formal ball, which included decorations, Liberty Caps, and an orchestra brought from Richmond. The end of the night is described as thus:
“The final dance was announced by the bugle call for taps and came to a close exactly at 1:25 o’clock in the morning. The out-of-town guests were entertained by friends at the college and in Williamsburg.”
