The American Nation celebrates Veterans Day on November, 11 every year to commemorate the veterans. Sadly, not many Americans, especially the youth, know the history of Veterans Day. Many confuse it with the Memorial Day. This article mainly focuses on the history of Veterans Day and why does the American nation celebrate it.
Veterans Day was formally known as Armistice Day, and the U.S. government declared November 11 as a national holiday to commemorate the end of World War I. The World War I ended on the same date in year 1918. The government passed a legislation in which it announced, ‘(November 11 is) dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’. This legislation was passed in1938. Then came the World War II and when the Second World War ended, the veteran service organizations urged the U.S. government to change the name to Veterans Day. Hence, legislation was passed by the U.S government on June 1, 1954 in which it was decided that November 11 will be a national holiday to honor the veterans.
An interesting bill was passed later, titled Uniforms Holiday Bill, which ensured three-day weekend by celebrating four American holidays on Mondays. These four holidays included Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. This bill moved the Veterans Days from November 11 to the last Monday of October. But the move was not welcomed by many states and they continued celebrating the Veterans Day on the 11th of November. It increased the confusion among the nation and hence in 1975 President Gerald R. Ford approved another piece of legislation which made it a law that the nation would observe the Veterans Day on November 11. Since then the Veterans Day has been observed on 11th day of November only.
Veterans Day and Memorial Day – The Difference
Memorial Day is celebrated to honor the service members who gave their lives and died in the service to their beloved country as a result of injuries they incurred during the battle times. Veterans Day is observed annually to honor those living veterans who served their country honorably and with dedication during the times of war and peace.
Veterans Day History
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