Difference between revisions of "Veterans Day"
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[[Image:Vetsday07.jpg|right|200px]] | [[Image:Vetsday07.jpg|right|200px]] | ||
| − | '''Veterans Day''' is a celebration to honor [[United States of America|America's]] veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: <ref>[http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp History of Veterans Day]</ref> | + | '''Veterans Day''' is a celebration to honor the 25 million [[United States of America|America's]] veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: <ref>[http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp History of Veterans Day]</ref> |
==End of the War== | ==End of the War== | ||
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November 11 became known as Armistice Day. It officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. The name was changed, though, to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954. | November 11 became known as Armistice Day. It officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. The name was changed, though, to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954. | ||
| − | + | [[File:NamWarMemorialStatue.jpg|thumb|200px|left| Vietnam War Memorial]] | |
==Veterans Day== | ==Veterans Day== | ||
Veterans Day changed to the fourth Monday in October, by a new legislation in 1988. But it turned out that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many American citizens. So the Congress restored the national holiday to its original date in 1978. | Veterans Day changed to the fourth Monday in October, by a new legislation in 1988. But it turned out that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many American citizens. So the Congress restored the national holiday to its original date in 1978. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Ceremonial== | ||
| + | Veterans' organizations hold parades or other special ceremonies, and the president customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Many town across America do the same, honor the fallen from their own communities. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===The Veterans Day National Ceremony=== | ||
| + | A tradition-rich ceremony is held at Arlington Cemetery ever November 11th. All branches of the armed forces give recognition to fallen warriors at the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]]. It is customary for the President to lay a wreath in silent honor. | ||
| + | [[File:Arlington cemetery guard.jpg|right|thumb|200px| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]] | ||
| + | ==Veteran's Organizations== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Veterans Of Foreign Wars | ||
| + | * Vietnam Veterans Of America | ||
| + | * Catholic War Veterans | ||
| + | * Marine Corps League | ||
| + | * Disabled American Veterans | ||
| + | * POW/MIA | ||
| + | * Army And Navy Union, USA | ||
| + | * Amvets | ||
==Veterans Day celebrations worldwide== | ==Veterans Day celebrations worldwide== | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | *[http://veterans.house.gov/ House Committee on Veteran's Affairs] | |
| − | *http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/ Official Website from United States Department of Veterans Affairs | + | *[http://www.military.com/veterans-day/ Celebrating Veteran's Day] |
| − | *http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071031-6.html Veterans Day Proclamation | + | *[http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/ National Veterans Day Ceremony] |
| − | *http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetday_faq.asp Veterans Day Frequently Asked Questions | + | *[http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/ Official Website from United States Department of Veterans Affairs] |
| + | *[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071031-6.html Veterans Day Proclamation] | ||
| + | *[http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetday_faq.asp Veterans Day Frequently Asked Questions] | ||
[[Category:Holidays]] | [[Category:Holidays]] | ||
[[Category:United States Holidays]] | [[Category:United States Holidays]] | ||
Revision as of 04:46, November 11, 2009
Veterans Day is a celebration to honor the 25 million America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: [1]
Contents
End of the War
With the Treaty of Versailles, World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919. The fighting had actually ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
Armistice Day Turns Into Veterans Day
November 11 became known as Armistice Day. It officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. The name was changed, though, to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day changed to the fourth Monday in October, by a new legislation in 1988. But it turned out that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many American citizens. So the Congress restored the national holiday to its original date in 1978.
Ceremonial
Veterans' organizations hold parades or other special ceremonies, and the president customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Many town across America do the same, honor the fallen from their own communities.
The Veterans Day National Ceremony
A tradition-rich ceremony is held at Arlington Cemetery ever November 11th. All branches of the armed forces give recognition to fallen warriors at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is customary for the President to lay a wreath in silent honor.
Veteran's Organizations
- Veterans Of Foreign Wars
- Vietnam Veterans Of America
- Catholic War Veterans
- Marine Corps League
- Disabled American Veterans
- POW/MIA
- Army And Navy Union, USA
- Amvets
Veterans Day celebrations worldwide
A number of countries honor their veterans each year on November 11, although the name and types of commemorations differ somewhat from Veterans Day celebrations in the United States. For example, Canada and Australia observe "Remembrance Day" on November 11, and Great Britain observes "Remembrance Day" on the Sunday nearest to November 11. There are similarities and differences between these countries' Remembrance Day and America's Veterans Day. Canada's observance is actually quite similar to the U.S. celebration, in that the day is intended to honor all who served in Canada's Armed Forces. However, unlike in the U.S., many Canadians wear red poppy flowers on November 11 in honor of their war dead. In Australia, Remembrance Day is very much like America's Memorial Day, a day to honor that nation's war dead.
In Great Britain, the day is commemorated by church services and parades of ex-service members in Whitehall, a wide ceremonial avenue leading from London's Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. Wreaths of poppies are left at the Cenotaph, a war memorial in Whitehall, which was built after the First World War. At the Cenotaph and elsewhere in the country, a two-minute silence is observed at 11 a.m., to honor those who lost their lives in wars.[2] In Russia, veterans are honored on February 23rd.
