Veteran's Day History

  Sunday is Veteran's day, a holiday that is just under a century old.  Originally it was called Armistice Day in remembrance of the War to end all Wars.

Although World War I officially ended on  June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, fighting had ceased at "the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month" 1918 when a temporary armistice was enacted.

In November 1919, President Wilson declared November 11 as the first celebration of Armistice Day with parades, public meetings, and such beginning at 11:00 am.  It wasn't until 1926 that congress passed a resolution to celebrate it annually since 27 states had already declared November 11th as an official holiday.

Then in 1938, just before war broke out in Europe, Congress declared November 11th as a legal holiday known as Armistice Day in recognition of all those who fought in World War I.  It remained Armistice Day until the name was changed to Veteran's Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower because of the mobilization of military during World War II and the Korean War. 

The name Armistice was replaced with Veterans as a way to recognize the service of all living veterans who fought in World War II and the Korean War. Its for  people like my great grandfathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, etc, all of whom fought in a variety of wars from World War I to recent encounters.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill which moved Veteran's day to the fourth Monday in October beginning in 1971 as a way to extend weekends to three days but many states disagreed with this and continued to celebrate it on its original date. So in 1975, Gerald Ford moved it back to November 11th due to its historical importance and lack of support by other states.

Other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Canada also celebrate their own version of Veterans day for those who fought in World War I and II.  In addition, Europe, Great Britain, and other Commonwealth countries celebrate two minutes of silence beginning at 11 am on November 11th.

Please remember those who fought in any war.  They have sacrificed a lot.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to her, have a good weekend.