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Veterans Day: 8 Things You May Not Know

Hommel, Jan

From the desk of Jan Hommel, American Freedom Museum Director:

Veterans Day is coming up soon. Here are 8 things you may not know about Veterans Day:

  • Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the truce signed between the Allies and Germany in World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
  • President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in the United States on November 11, 1919. All business was suspended for 2 minutes starting at 11:00 a.m. and parades and public gatherings were held to commemorate the occasion.
  • The first unknown American soldier killed in the war was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in , D.C. on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921. At 11:00 a.m. every Veterans Day, the President of the United States or one of his representatives, lays a wreath on the tomb and a Color Guard ceremony representing all branches of the military takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  • An act approved by Congress on May 13, 1938, made November 11th a legal holiday, 鈥渄edicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 鈥楢rmistice Day.’鈥�
  • In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a World War II veteran, legally changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, following a national campaign to have the day honor all veterans, not just those who served in World War I.
  • For a brief time in 1971, Congress changed the holiday to the 4th Monday in October, giving Americans a 3-day weekend. Most people rejected the idea. The traditional date of November 11th, the anniversary of the Great War鈥檚 ceasefire, was too historically important to forget. In 1975, President Gerald Ford reversed the law, changing Veterans Day back to November 11th due to the historical significance.
  • The United States Census Bureau estimates that there are currently over 21 million living military veterans in the United States, with more than 16 million serving during times of war and 5.5 million serving during times of peace.
  • Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans鈥搇iving or dead鈥揵ut especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

We would like to invite you to join us for Veterans Day next Friday, November 11th, at 7:30 a.m., as we begin our day with reveille, the raising of our flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for our nation. Afterwards, we will have a light breakfast, a time of fellowship and the American Freedom Museum will be open for the day to tour. This will be a gathering of veterans, active duty military and civilians. It will be an opportunity for us to honor, thank and recognize our veterans and military men and women who are currently serving our great country. It is because of their bravery and courage that we all possess the wonderful gift of freedom. We hope you will stop by next Friday morning and join us for this special time!

7:30 a.m. – Reveille, Flag Raising, Pledge of Allegiance and prayer for our nation

7:45 a.m. 鈥� Donuts, juice and coffee