Since 1918, November starts on a bittersweet note. On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour the armistice began that signaled the end of fighting in Europe of what was called The Great War (now known as WW I). Greenfield, according to F.R. Harris in his book "Hometown Chronicles," began celebrating that first Armistice Day at 4 a.m. when the night watchman gave the bell in the tower of Town Hall a few taps to signal the good news. After whistles blew, bells rang and guns were fired, a barbeque was held at noon in the town square followed by a wreath being laid at the Memorial Tablet next to City Building. The Tablet listed those who had lost their lives in the Great War. In the impromptu parade that followed the barbeque a hearse with a coffin carrying an effigy of the German Kaiser was one of the floats and when the hearse reached the center of town, the "Kaiser" was strung up on a guy wire and riddled with bullets. Today our celebrations of Veterans Day are just as heartfelt if not a little quieter.
