Remembering Our Veterans

This Sunday is Veterans Day (officially observed Monday, November 12th, by the Federal and State governments, since it falls on a Sunday), when we remember and thank those that have served in the military. The holiday began as Armistice Day, as a remembrance of the end of World War I, which officially ended on June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. But the actual fighting ended on November 11, 1918 at 11 AM, which was the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson marked the occasion with these words:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation...

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a law changing the name from "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day," and making November 11 a legal holiday. Wilson's original idea was to observe the day with parades and public meetings and a brief, two-minute suspension of business at 11 AM. Today, we still celebrate with parades and memorial services.

Great Britain, Canada, and Australia also honor their veterans on November 11, although they call their holiday Remembrance Day. In Canada, it is used as a day to remember all those who have served in their military, while in Australia, it is a day to remember those soldiers who have died. In Great Britain, the day is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. It is popular in Great Britain and its Commonwealth countries to wear a poppy as a sign of remembrance. This emblem grew popular upon the publication of the poem "In Flanders Fields," by John McRae.

Find out more:

Veterans Day FAQ - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs answers some frequently asked questions regarding Veterans Day.

Statistics about Veterans - The U.S. Census Bureau provides information about American veterans.

Veterans Day Discounts - Many restaurants and stores provide discounts for veterans. Check out this link for specific places.

Veterans Day Celebrations - A list of the events happening in Allegheny County to honor veterans.


For Further Reading about World War I:

The First World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert

The First World War, 1914-1918 by Gerd Hardach

The Last Days of Innocence: America At War, 1917-1918 by Meiron Harries and Susie Harries

When Europe Went Mad: A Brief History of the First World War by Terence T. Finn

A Stillness Heard Round the World by Stanley Weintraub

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century by Jay Winter and Blaine Baggett




-- Post by Tracy