Before I start this post, I want to say from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU to all of the Veterans who have served and who continue to serve for your sacrifice and bravery. I hope there is not a day that goes by where you go unnoticed for the things you have endured for our country.
With that being said, here are some fun facts some of you might not have known about Veterans Day.
- Veterans Day is always observed on November 11 and is both a state and a federal holiday.
- The day was first called Armistice Day and was established on November 11, 1919. This date was the first anniversary of the ending of World War I.
- As a result of lobbying by veterans’ service organizations, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. President Eisenhower signed the legislation. The holiday became a day to honor all of America’s veterans.
- President Eisenhower established the Veterans Day National Committee. Consisting of leaders of veterans’ groups, the committee meets several times a year in Washington, D.C. and plans Veterans Day activities and events that honor U.S. veterans. The committee is also dedicated to Veterans Day education, ensuring that the younger generations understand the importance and significance of the day.
- France, Britain, Canada, and Australia also honor World War I and II veterans on or near November 11.
- Every year on Veterans Day, at exactly 11 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony is held at the Tomb of the Unknowns in the Arlington National Cemetery.
- In 1968, Veterans Day was changed to the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to November 11 in 1975 by President Ford.
- The first Veterans Day parade was held in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947 and remains an annual tradition.
- The Veterans Day National Committee selects a national Veterans Day poster every year. The Paralyzed Veterans of America also runs an annual National Veterans Day Poster & Essay Contest for elementary and middle school students.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs features an interactive map that allows visitors to search for Veterans Day activities in their local areas. See if there is an event near you!