History of Veterans Day

History of Veterans Day. . Veterans Day is an official United States holiday honoring the men and women who have served in military service. It is observed each year on November 11. , Veterans Day coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are also celebrated in other countries on November 11. In these other countries this date is set aside specifically for honoring those who died in military service. The historical significance of November 11 stems from the fact that in 1918 major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. , Veterans Day in the United States is intended to thank all military veterans for dedicated and loyal service to our country. Memorial Day, on the other hand, is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in our military services and is observed each year on the last Monday of May. , In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day. In this proclamation he said: "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 the nations." , A Congressional Act approved May 13, 1938 made the 11th of November in each year a national holiday: "...a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'.” , In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama had the idea to expand Armistice Day to honor all veterans, not just those who died in World War I, and began a campaign to accomplish this goal. In great part due to his efforts, Congress on June 1, 1954 amended the 1938 Act by replacing the word "Armistice" with "Veterans". , Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of each year, in 1971 Congress moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October to be in accord with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. It readily became apparent, however, that the Commemoration of Veterans Day on November 11 was a matter of historic and patriotic significance. Congress finally recognized the importance of this date and in 1978 moved Veterans Day back to its original date of November 11. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans' service organizations and the American people. , Now, at exactly 11:00 a.m. each November 11th a color guard, made up of members from each of the military branches, renders honor to America's war dead during a heart-moving ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The President or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb and a bugler sounds Taps. Hundreds of parades and ceremonial events throughout the country also honor our Veterans on this day. , Veterans Day is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. November 11 of each year is the day that we express to veterans our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made to keep our country free. , We should, however, give thanks every day to Veterans and our military service men and women who gave and continue to give their lives for the cause of freedom; for without their service and sacrifice there would be no United States of America.