Celebrating Those Who Served on Veterans Day
Posted by JOE SWEENEY
Veterans Day is a United States federal holiday, which is observed annually on November 11. The holiday honors military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, as Veterans Day celebrates the service of all those who have served in the U.S. military, while Memorial Day commemorates those who died in the line of duty. There is also another military holiday that occurs in May called Armed Forces Day, which pays tribute to those currently serving in the U.S. military. But today we are honoring our veterans. It is important to note that the United States Department of Veteran Affairs has stated that Veterans Day should not have an apostrophe before or after the ‘s’, because it is not a day that belongs to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. Fighting during World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. That date became known as the end of “the war to end all wars”. In 1919, on the first anniversary of the armistice, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that November 11 would be celebrated as Armistice Day, which would be commemorated with parades, public meetings, and a two-minute pause of business at 11 am. President Wilson addressed the nation 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 councils of nations.”
A ceremony that took place on November 11, 1921 established the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Eight highly decorated WWI veterans escorted the body of an unknown soldier to the tomb, where the unknown solider was buried as part of the ceremony. Congressed declared November 11, 1921, to be a legal federal holiday to honor all those who participated in the Great War.
In 1926 Congress adopted a resolution requesting that President Calvin Coolidge recognize and honor the armistice by issuing a proclamation calling on the annual observance with appropriate ceremonies on November 11. A Congressional Act was approved on May 13, 1938, which made Armistice Day a national legal holiday to be dedicated to the cause of world peace as well as a day to honor veterans of WWI.
In 1945, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks had the idea to include all veterans as part of Armistice Day, as WWII had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen in the nation’s history. Weeks organized a parade and festivities to honor all veterans on November 11, 1947, and called it National Veterans Day, which was the first time the term Veterans Day was used. In 1954, after the Korean War, veterans from both WWII and Korea urged congress to recognize veterans of all wars as part of Armistice Day celebrations. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that changed the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is celebrated across the nation with parades, speeches, military reenactments, and commemorative events. Patriots and veterans gather at war memorials to honor all those who served. A national Veterans Day observance is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery. November 11, 2022, marks the 101st anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, which will be commemorated with a wreath-laying ceremony. Many Americans choose to pay tribute to veterans by visiting cemeteries all across the country.
We at Patriot’s Cave want to say a huge thank you to all the veterans out there. We appreciate you and your service. We know that your dedication to our country is what enables us to enjoy life and liberty and to pursue happiness. We encourage our readers and everyone in the Patriot’s Cave community to express their appreciation to the veterans in their life this November 11. We think a great way to do this is with a token of gratitude – a gift if you will. We’ve got some great ideas to help make your veteran’s day a little more special because we the people thank you, Veterans.
