5 Facts to Know About Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a well-known American holiday, but there are some misunderstandings about it, such as how it's pronounced and who it honors. Here are some main things to know to help you make sense of it all.
There is no apostrophe on Veterans Day.
Many people assume it is “Veterans Day” or “Veterans' Day,” but they are mistaken. The holiday does not “belong” to a single veteran or a group of veterans, as the apostrophe suggests. There's no need for an apostrophe because it's a day to honor all veterans.
Veterans Day and Memorial Day are not the same thing.
Many Americans are perplexed by this, and to be frank, it can be aggravating to all of the living veterans out there.
Memorial Day honors those who have given their lives in the service of our nation, especially in combat or as a result of battle wounds. Veterans Day celebrates those who have served the nation in war or peace, whether they be dead or alive, though it is primarily intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.
It was first recognised as Armistice Day, as it commemorated the end of World War I.
On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was concluded, formally ending World War I. However, the war ended seven months earlier, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when the Allies and Germany signed an armistice.
As a result, Nov. 11, 1918, was called Armistice Day and was widely regarded as the culmination of "the war to end all wars." It was proclaimed the end of the war by Congress in 1926, and it was declared an official holiday in 1938, mainly to commemorate World War I veterans.
But then came World War II and the Korean War, so Congress changed the commemoration once again on June 1, 1954, at the behest of veterans service groups, by changing the word "armistice" to "veterans" so that the day would recognize American veterans of all conflicts.
Veterans Day's date was also postponed for a bit, which confused everyone.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill, which ensured that a few federal holidays, including Veterans Day, would be observed on Mondays. Officials hoped that by promoting travel and other family events over the long weekend, the economy would be stimulated.
Veterans Day is commemorated on the fourth Monday of every October for some inexplicable purpose.
The first Veterans Day was observed on October 25, 1971, as a result of the new legislation. We're not sure why it took three years to enact, but there was a lot of uncertainty about the move, and several states were disappointed, opting to continue celebrating the day in November as they had previously.
Within a few years, it became clear that most Americans chose to commemorate Veterans Day on November 11 because it was historically and patriotically significant.
As a result, President Gerald Ford signed another law (Public Law 94-97) on September 20, 1975, restoring the annual observance to its original date in 1978.
Some nations, too, celebrate it in their own unique ways.
Since World War I was a global effort, it's only natural that our allies would want to honor their veterans on November 11th. However, the name of the day and the forms of commemorations vary.
The 11th of November is observed as “Remembrance Day” in both Canada and Australia. Canada's commemoration is somewhat close to ours, with the fact that many Canadians wear red poppy flowers to commemorate their war dead. In Australia, the day is more akin to Remembrance Day in the United States.
It is also recognised as "Remembrance Day" in the United Kingdom, but it is commemorated on the Sunday nearest to November 11 with parades, services, and two minutes of silence in London to remember those who have fallen in wars.
Related: The history of Veterans Day and how to celebrate with kids during the pandemic.
Comments
Post a Comment