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THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY
Veterans
Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse
the holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veteran Affairs. What's more, some Americans don't know why
we commemorate our veterans on November 11th. It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that
we can honor our former servicemembers properly.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF VETERANS
DAY
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday
to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938,
November 11th was "dedicated to the cause of world peace to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'".
As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both world II and the
Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations , amended the Act of 1938 by striking out
the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans". With the support of the legislation on June 1,
1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968 Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day
weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays. Washington's birthday, Memorial Day,
Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many States did not
agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new
saw was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.
Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed
a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to the original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978. Since
then, Veterans Day Holiday has been observed on November 11th.
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