Veterans Day (which does not have an apostrophe when spelled correctly) in America was instituted by proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 as a tribute to those who had served in the armed forces during World War I. Originally called "Armistice Day," it fell on November 11 of each year to commemorate the end of the "War to End All Wars" which occurred on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. President Franklin Roosevelt signed a bill into law on May 13, 1938 making Armistice Day an official federal holiday.
On June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation renaming the holiday as "Veterans Day" in order to honor all of those who had served in the armed forces--not just the combatants from World War I.
Congress, in 1968, cheapened the holiday by making it the fourth Monday in October (starting in 1971) so that federal employees could get a three-day weekend. President Gerald Ford, in 1975, moved the holiday back to its traditional November 11 date, commencing in 1978.
Is Veterans Day redundant in light of the fact that Americans celebrate Memorial Day in May? Not really. Veterans Day is supposed to pay tribute to all American veterans, living and dead, regardless if they served during war or peacetime. Memorial Day was established to honor those veterans who died while serving in their country's armed forces.
It is good that veterans have a day dedicated to them each year. It might even be better if more of them also had jobs, housing, and adequate medical care. You can help.
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| The two greatest veterans that I have ever known. |
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