Veterans Day

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Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11. It honors military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. 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.

History

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In 1945, Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. Weeks led a delegation to General Dwight Eisenhower, who supported the idea of National Veterans Day. Weeks led the first national celebration in 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama, and annually until his death in 1985. President Ronald Reagan honored Weeks at the White House with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the driving force for the national holiday. Elizabeth Dole, who prepared the briefing for President Reagan, determined Weeks as the "Father of Veterans Day."

Observance

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service. Another military holiday, Armed Forces Day, also occurs in May and honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.

Traditions

Veterans Day is typically marked by ceremonies and parades. Many schools and businesses close in observance of the holiday. The National Veterans Day Ceremony is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries.

Related Pages

• Memorial Day
• Armed Forces Day
• World War I
• United States Armed Forces
• Arlington National Cemetery
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Raymond Weeks
• Dwight Eisenhower
• Ronald Reagan