Celebrating Veterans Day
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November 11, 2022, is Veterans Day. The federal holiday honors the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This includes everyone who has served in the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Veterans Day often gets confused with Memorial Day. Both honor the American military. But they serve different purposes. Memorial Day commemorates US soldiers who have died in a war. Veterans Day celebrates all US military veterans.
US President Woodrow Wilson established Armistice Day — as it was then called — on November 11, 1919. It was a day to honor World War I soldiers. The date marked the first anniversary of the November 11, 1918, ceasefire agreement, or armistice, between the Allied Nations and Germany. It led to the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war on June 28, 1919. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to include the soldiers that fought in World War II (1939 -1945) and the Korean War (1950 - 1953).
Veterans Day continued to be celebrated on November 11 until the 1968 Uniform Holiday Bill. The law was passed to enable Americans to enjoy three-day weekends. It changed the dates of four federal holidays to a predetermined Monday. They include Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. This bill moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. But due to the date's historical significance, many states continued to observe Veterans Day on November 11.
On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford ended the confusion by changing Veterans Day to its original date. The law went into effect in 1978. Since then, the holiday has always been celebrated on November 11. Many other countries also honor their soldiers on November 11. France and New Zealand still refer to the holiday as Armistice Day. The UK, Australia, and Canada call it Remembrance Day. Malta and South Africa celebrate it as Poppy Day.
There are many ways to appreciate the brave US servicemen and women on this special day. Participate in your city or town's Veterans Day parade. Invite the veterans in your family or neighborhood for a meal and learn about their experiences. You can also deliver some food and supplies to a nearby veteran center. Better still, spend time reading or talking to soldiers who are too old or injured to leave their homes.
Happy Veterans Day!
Resources: History.com, VA.gov
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102 Comments
shermantank497almost 2 yearsthe worst battle of world war 2 was... D-Day because of omaha beach.
kebyzalazufyalmost 2 yearsagreed.
deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsTrue, I agree
- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsHappy Veterans Day everyone! The fallen soldiers of U.S. will be forever rememebered.
bunnyjoyful_sabalmost 2 yearsDoes any one have a family that is a veteran?
pria5418almost 2 yearsYeah. My dad was in the Army. He has never been wounded.
tristealmost 2 yearsMy Grandma was in the Army.- pria5418almost 2 yearsCool!
emmy901almost 2 yearsYes my aunt is in the army and my uncle is in the military.- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsYep! I have...! Nearly all of my ancestors and family are soldiers so...ya...I have many veterans in my family!
- bunnyjoyful_sabalmost 2 yearsHappy Veterans week and to all those soldiers out ther thank you for your sevice!
love-artalmost 2 yearssalute to all our soldiers!🫡
boba_addictionalmost 2 yearsRESPECT TO SOLDIERS!
afteralmost 2 yearsthank you thank you veterans and happy veterans day- love-artalmost 2 yearsHappy Veterans' Day!
cjlbestiesalmost 2 yearshappy veterans week
musical_nerdalmost 2 yearsveterans day holds a special place in my heart due to having a family member currently in the military, and having several family members as veterans. unfortunatly, only one is still alive, but i am so grateful for my grandpa an all other veterans. what an amazing holiday. thankyou for your sevice.- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsAgreed! My mom served in U.S. Army for nearly 2 years and my dad served in U.S. Army as a 1st Lietunat for nearly 30 years..! I`m going to thank them for serving our proud country.
- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsOh....my bad, my dad served in as Major not 1st Lietunat
- musical_nerdalmost 2 yearswow thtas aweson. my grandpa was in the army and navy
- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsYa, uhmmm, and other members in my family is also soldiers, so...I just decided to enlist and fight to defend this country, they inspired me to purse my dreams no matter what, so...that`s awesome that your grandpa is in Army and Navy, my grandpa used to be in Army but now he is veteran...God keep all U.S. soldiers safe! Salute to all fallen soldiers in all wars that happening past...and present...
- musical_nerdalmost 2 yearswow
- deafgirlhistoryalmost 2 yearsYa...I have alot of veterans in my family!..But still...happy veteran day
techfashion0315almost 2 yearsThat's incredible! Both of you have extraordinary stories! 💜😊- musical_nerdalmost 2 yearsthank u
- techfashion0315almost 2 yearsYeah, you're welcome! 🙃