I know some people wonder what Veterans Day
is, how it got started, and what is the difference between Veterans Day and
Memorial Day.
The History of Veterans Day
- In
1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was
declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, also known
as the Great War. November 11, 1918 was regarded as the end of “the war to
end all wars.” How I wish that belief were true.
- Just
over 116,000 Americans died in World War I, defending the lives and
freedom of our European allies.
- The
following year, in November 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared
November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following
words: “To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled
with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s
service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from
which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America
to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the council of the
nations…”
The original concept of the
celebration was for a day to be observed with parades, public gatherings, and a
brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00am.
The United States Congress
officially recognized the end of World War 1 when it passed a resolution on
June 4, 1926.
- November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. It is a day dedicated to the cause of world peace. In 1954 Congress amended Armistice Day by changing it to Veterans Day. Later that same year President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day" Proclamation which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
There was some confusion
about the date on which Veterans Day should be celebrated until President
Gerald Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual
observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in
1978 (and it is celebrated on the 11th no matter what day of the week on which that date falls.) This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state
legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
The purpose of Veterans
Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of
country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Some Factoids Regarding Veterans Day:
There is no apostrophe
in the word “veterans.”
A lot of people think
it’s “Veteran’s Day” or “Veterans’ Day,” but they’re wrong. The holiday is not
a day that “belongs” to one veteran or multiple veterans, which is what an
apostrophe implies. It’s a day for honoring all veterans — so no
apostrophe needed.
Veterans Day
is NOT the Same as Memorial Day.
A lot of Americans get
this confused, and we’ll be honest — it can be a little annoying to all of the
living veterans out there.
Memorial Day is a time
to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle
or from wounds they suffered in battle. Veterans Day honors all of those who
have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely
intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.
The original name was Armistice, but was
changed to Veterans Day
Armistice worked when
World War I was believed to be the war to end all wars, but then World War 2
and the Korean War came along, so the name was changed to Veterans Day.
Our allies celebrate
veterans, too, but their celebrations are slightly different.
Canada and Australia
both call Nov. 11 “Remembrance Day.” Canada’s observance is pretty similar to
our own, except many of its citizens wear red poppy flowers to honor their war
dead. In Australia, the day is more akin to our Memorial Day.
Great Britain calls it
“Remembrance Day,” too, but observes it on the Sunday closest to Nov. 11 with
parades, services and two minutes of silence in London to honor those who lost
their lives in war.
I honor the veterans who
have served their country. No one walks away from a war unharmed, unchanged.
Some, of course, never come home, some come home physically altered, and some
come home with wounds we can’t see. They sacrificed so much for us, for our
country; they and their families deserve our respect, our help, and our
everlasting gratitude.
Until next time…
Sarah J.
McNeal
Author of
Heartwarming Stories
