Veterans Day 2021

11/11/2021 (Permalink)

Today we give thanks to all of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and guardians for their sacrifice to this great nation.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as the first Armistice Day honoring those who fought in World War I but it wasn’t until 1938 that congress passed a resolution for an annual observance known as Armistice Day, or as we know it, as Veteran’s Day with the first national holiday being celebrated on November 11, 1938. This day gives thanks to Veterans who served their country during war or peacetime.

It originated from the signaling of the end of World War I on “the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month”. While the original day was originally set aside to honor veterans of World War I, that quickly changed with World War II and was officially changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954, to honor veterans of all wars with President Dwight D. Eisenhower issuing the first Veterans Day Proclamation on October 8, 1954.

 "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

To encourage travel and recreational activities, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October in 1968 due to the Uniform Holidays Bill. By 1975 President Gerald Ford moved the holiday back to November 11 due to the historical significance of the day.

Other countries that celebrate Veterans Day or Remembrance Day are Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada on or near November 11, to signify the end of World I and World War II.