Veteran's Day brings good thoughts and pride in my
country. Those who have served our country deserve honor. God reminds us that
we should honor everyone, but we honor Veterans on this day. Romans 13:7 says,
"Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if
revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans, that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I (Also known as the Great War) ; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who gave their lives and those who perished while in service.
In the USA, Veterans
Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of
the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied
nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the
United States on Veterans Day.
While both honor our military personnel, the former is a day to remember and pay respect to all the
men and women that died serving our country in a war, while Veterans Day is to celebrate the soldiers who are still alive and
served in the forces at anytime, during peace or war.
“Veterans Day shows
respect for those who were willing to give their lives to the country and to
serve their country. It shows that we appreciate the veterans.” “Veterans Day is important to me because it is a time to
recognize and honor those that have served their country in the armed forces.
Celebrating Veterans Day. If the November
11 holiday falls on a
non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday is observed by the federal
government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday
falls on Saturday).
Observance
Veterans Day is intended
to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all
wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services
and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence
lasting two minutes may be held at 11 am. Some schools are closed on Veterans
Day, while others do not close, but choose to mark the occasion with special
assemblies or other activities.
Veterans Day is
officially observed on November 11. However, if it falls on a week day, many
communities hold their celebrations on the weekend closest to this date. This
is to enable more people to attend and participate in the events. Federal
Government offices are closed on November 11. If Veterans Day falls on a
Saturday, they are closed on Friday November 10. If Veterans Day falls on a
Sunday, they are closed on Monday November 12. State and local governments,
schools and non-governmental businesses are not required to close and may
decide to remain open or closed. Public transit systems may follow a regular or
holiday schedule.
History
On the 11th hour of the
11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied
nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated
for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be
"filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the
country’s service and with gratitude for the victory". There were plans
for parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at
11 am.
In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should "issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13, 1938, which made November 11 in each year a legal holiday, known as Armistice Day. This day was originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. A few years later, World War II required the largest mobilization of service men in the history of the United States and the American forces fought in Korea. In 1954, the veterans service organizations urged Congress to change the word "Armistice" to "Veterans". Congress approved this change and on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans, where ever and whenever they had served.
In 1968 the Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) made an attempt to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. The bill took effect in 1971. However, this caused a lot of confusion as many states disagreed with this decision and continued to hold Veterans Day activities on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which stated that Veterans Day would again be observed on November 11 from 1978 onwards. Veterans Day is still observed on November 11.
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