What is Veterans Day? Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring all veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Observed annually on November 11, Veterans Day is a time to remember and appreciate the courage and sacrifice of all who served our country, and to advocate on their behalf.
First observed as Armistice Day in 1919 in recognition of the end of World War I, it honored only veterans of the “war to end all wars” which ceased at 11 am on November 11, 1918 — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1938, a Congressional Act made Armistice Day a federal holiday.
In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War and requests to Congress by veterans’ organizations, President Eisenhower renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
At 11 am on Veterans Day, the President of the United States holds a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. This official observance begins with the president laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and is followed by a parade of colors and speeches inside the Memorial Amphitheater.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a solemn memorial at Arlington National Cemetery that honors unidentified American service members who died in our nation’s wars. Situated on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C., the Tomb is a white marble sarcophagus adorned with three Greek figures on the front side representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. There are also six wreaths, three sculpted on each side, which represent the six major campaigns of World War I. On the back of the Tomb there is an inscription that reads: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”
The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.”
On Veterans Day, there are many ways that you can show your gratitude to those who served our country. You can attend parades, memorial services, flag raising ceremonies, or community gatherings dedicated to honoring our veterans. You can also show your support for organizations whose goal is to help veterans by assisting with housing, education, and medical care. Some of the organizations are the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disability American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Program, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The simplest way to honor our veterans is to just say “thank you” to a veteran and their family for their service. Let them know that we care for and support them.
It is also crucial to share our history of Veterans Day with friends and family, especially our children, to teach them why they should respect the veterans of our great nation.
God bless our veterans and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
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