History Of Veterans Day

The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown soldier that died in World War I was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. This burial — which became a focal point of American reverence for veterans — sits atop a hillside overlooking the Potomac River in Washington D.C.

This special burial set the trend for other nations. An unknown soldier that died in World War I was buried in the highest places of honor in countries including England and France.

A memorial is still held for these unknown soldiers every year on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., when World War I officially ended in 1918. It is known as the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

This date became observed as Armistice Day in 1919, created in the hope that World War I was the war to end all wars. Unfortunately, these hopes crashed as a large war broke out in Europe only three years later.

This European war led to the death of 407,000 American soldiers.

At this point, Armistice Day only celebrated deceased soldiers. In 1947, Raymond Weeks — a World War II Veteran — organized “National Veterans Day” that honored all living and deceased veterans. He held this celebration on Nov. 11.

U.S. Rep. Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, which Congress passed in 1954. Since then, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day and celebrates all living and deceased veterans.

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Why we Celebrate Veterans Day

Celebrating Veterans Day allows us to honor the brave men and women who currently serve or have served in the U.S. military. It is also a way to commemorate deceased veterans’ sacrifices to protect our freedoms.

Veterans Day always falls on Nov. 11. Many businesses, schools, and institutions are closed to observe the holiday.

On Aug. 4, 2001, the Senate designated the entire week as “National Veterans Awareness Week.” This week is devoted to teaching students about veterans’ contributions to our country. The week begins on Nov. 11 and lasts until Nov. 17. 

Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day

Many Americans confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors veterans who died in service to our country due to participation in battles.

Veterans Day honors deceased veterans and honors all living veterans who currently serve or have served in the U.S. military. Veterans Day is always observed on Nov. 11 since it’s the date World War I ended.

Memorial Day was formally observed on May 30. However, it is now observed on the last Monday in May, so the date changes every year.

Veterans Day Celebrations and Traditions

Practically every town in the U.S. holds a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11. An easy way to show your support for veterans is to show up at one of these events.

Most towns have at least a small parade, followed by a local block party. You may also find festivals, speeches, and commemorations to attend. 

Memorials take place at cemeteries, especially military cemeteries. You can attend a memorial service and leave flowers on a veteran’s grave.

Several organizations host fundraising events on Veterans Day. Some of these organizations are the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Check with your local military clubs to see if they have any public events you can attend.

Veterans Day Traditions

There are things you can do to keep the traditions of Veterans Day alive and honor U.S. soldiers. Some of the most important practices to honor on Veterans Day are:

• The moment of silence. The traditional time for the moment of silence on Veterans Day is at 11 a.m. and lasts for one minute.
• Fly an American flag. Put a flag up at your home, on your vehicle, or even carry a small one around for the day.
• Give or wear a poppy. The red poppy is a remembrance symbol of WWI and symbolizes the sacrifice of soldiers who gave their lives in the war. 
• Say the National Anthem. Most celebrations will say the national anthem, but you can always do so by yourself to honor our veterans.

These traditions are some of the ways you can honor U.S. veterans and soldiers.

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List of Patriotic Holidays

There are several other patriotic holidays celebrated in the United States. 

The list of patriotic holidays are:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January.
• Washington’s Birthday. Washington’s Birthday, also known as President’s Day, occurs on the third Monday of February.
• Flag Day. Flag Day commemorates the official adoption of the U.S. flag and is held on June 14.
• Independence Day. Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and is celebrated on July 4.
• Constitution Day. Constitution Day memorializes the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787 and is held on Sept. 17.
• Election Day. Election Day is the first Tuesday of November when voting takes place.
• Veterans Day. Veterans Day is the celebration of veterans that takes place on Nov. 11.
• Bill of Rights Day. Bill of Rights Day commemorates the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution and is held on Dec. 15.

Each of these holidays values the importance of our history, independence, and freedom we deeply cherish in America. 

Conclusion: The History of Veterans Day

The history of Veterans Day began by only celebrating deceased soldiers on a day people hoped would represent the end of all wars. Unfortunately, there have been more wars since then. The holiday has since changed to honor all deceased and alive veterans. 

We celebrate Veterans Day to show our gratitude to living veterans, active duty, and memorialize those that passed.

Many Americans confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. One way to remember the difference is that Memorial Day unofficially kicks off the spring season.

You can show your support for our veterans by participating in local events and donating to military fundraisers.

You can also participate in best practices on Veterans Day, such as flying the American flag and singing the national anthem.

You can do several things to support a veteran, regardless of what day it is, such as sending a military care package during the holidays or any time of year.

You can also help a soldier by maintaining their vehicle while deployed or helping them find affordable car insurance. 

Overall, showing support year-round for our veterans is the most thoughtful way to show you care.

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