By The next holiday honoring service members is almost here.
In Loving Memory – Julian D., U.S. Navy Seal,
KIA in Syria Nov. 2012
Reast in Heaven – We Miss you Buddy!
Ahead of the occasion, find out everything you need to know about Veterans Day, including when it occurs, what it means and how it is celebrated.
“It’s a good day to be an American,” said Tucker Robbins, from the Rotary Club of Wilmington, while adjusting and securing the hero flags uprooted by Tropical Storm Ophelia along the River North in Wilmington, Saturday, September 23, 2023. Wilmington saw intermittent winds, rain and drizzle.
When is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day — not “Veteran’s Day” or “Veterans’ Day” — is observed annually on Nov. 11, regardless of which day of the week it falls on.
Veterans Day is on Saturday, Nov. 11, this year.
What is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is a holiday honoring all service members.
World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but the fighting actually ended seven months before then, when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Due to this, Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars,” and called Armistice Day. Congress officially recognized Nov. 11 as the end of the war in 1926, declaring it as an official holiday to honor veterans of World War I in 1938.
When World War II and the Korean War occurred, various veterans’ organizations urged Congress to alter the meaning of the holiday to be broader and celebrate all veterans. On June 1, 1954, Congress amended the holiday by changing it from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, honoring American veterans of all wars.
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?
Veterans Day is a federal holiday, according to the Department of Defense.
When the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, businesses and government officials may recognize it on both the official day and the following Monday. Schools typically have the day off. Whether or not companies observe the day as a company holiday is a business decision, according to Military.com.
History of Veterans Day
While Veterans Day is on Nov. 11, it was celebrated on a different date for a brief period of time.
In 1968, Congress signed the Uniform Holiday Bill to ensure that a handful of federal holidays — including Veterans Day — would be celebrated on a Monday, hoping this decision would spur travel and family activities over a long weekend and stimulate the economy, according to the Department of Defense.
Under this bill, Veterans Day was set to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of every October, with the first Veterans Day under the new bill being held on Oct. 25, 1971.
Most citizens were confused and unhappy about the change in dates, and many chose to continue celebrating Veterans Day on Nov. 11. After a few years of contention with the October holiday, former President Gerald Ford signed another law into effect on Sept. 20, 1975, that returned Veterans Day to its original Nov. 11 observance, starting in 1978.
What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
While both holidays honor those who have died serving the country, Memorial Day and Veterans Day differ in purpose.
Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday in May, honors all service members who have died, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1926 and signifies the armistice that ended combat in World War I in 1918. After World War II, the scope of Armistice Day’s purpose broadened in 1954 to recognize those who have served in all American wars.
Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day and commemorating the end of World War I, was established to honor all who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I and has expanded to honor all service members — dead or alive — for their sacrifices, according to the Department of Defense.
How do you greet a veteran on Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is a time to celebrate all who have served our country. You can greet a veteran by wishing them “Happy Veterans Day” or by saying, “Thank you for your service.”
Other ways to acknowledge the sacrifice and dedication of veterans on Veterans Day include:
- Attending a Veterans Day event in your area.
- Displaying an American flag on your property.
- Donating to or volunteering with veterans’ organizations, charities and facilities.
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Donations:
Click the image below or scan the QRCode – Thank you for your support (splitted in 2 equal parts, Vets in need, Pres. Trump Campaign)
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Sources: DE Online – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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