What is Veteran’s Day?
November 11th of each year is the day we in the United States honor all our veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces that were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
The United States Armed Forces include six service branches:
It Was Originally Called Armistice Day
Veterans Day had its roots in World War One (WWI). On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany. November 11, 1918 became known as the end of the “War to End All Wars” as President Woodrow Wilson called it. The following year President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. He issued a message to all Americans on the first Armistice Day:
ADDRESS TO FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN
The White House, November 11, 1919.
A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of international relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half.
With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we remodeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought.
Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men.
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 councils of nations.
WOODROW WILSON
Concept
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
It was Made a Legal Holiday Much Later
Armistice Day wasn’t made a legal holiday until much later. On May 13, 1938 an Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) an act was approved which made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”
Was Changed To “Veterans Day” After WWII and the Korean War
President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts
Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the Nation’s history and American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.”
With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars., made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Veterans Day.”
On October 8th of the same year, President Eisenhower proclamation 3071 which called on all citizens to observe Thursday November 11th, 1954 as “Veterans Day” and designated the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee :
“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.”
It Wasn’t Always on November 11th
On June 28, 1968, The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed into law. It was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.The commemoration of this day was not well accepted by a great number of citizens so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. 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. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veteran service organizations and the American people.
Today Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11th, regardless of which day of the week it happens to fall on. This preserves the historical significance of the day and helps keep our focus on what the day is all about, which to celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their service to our country.
A Few Ways to Thank a Veteran
- Fly your flag
- Volunteer at a Veteran’s organization
- Send a thank you note to someone who is a veteran
- Change your Facebook profile picture to feature your favorite veteran
- Visit the veterans at your local nursing home
- Be a good citizen and make your life worth the sacrifice others have paid for your freedoms
Resources:
For a list of companies providing Free Meals, Discounts, Sales and Deals on Veterans Day please visit:
https://militarybenefits.info/veterans-day-discounts-sales-deals-free-meals/
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