History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day

• Veterans Day is a celebration to

honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of

country, and willingness to

serve and sacrifice for the common

good (United States Department of Veterans Affairs,

2007.)

• Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring all military veterans. It is both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is celebrated on November 11th each year.

• It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.

• U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919 (United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007.)

• The United States Congress passed a resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting the President to issue an observance for November 11 with appropriate ceremonies (United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007.)

On May 13, 1938, Congress passed an Act making the 11th of November each year a legal holiday. The holiday was dedicated to the cause of world peace and to celebrate Armistice Day (Wikipedia, 2008.)

• In 1953, a campaign was launched to turn

Armistice Day into "All" Veterans Day to

celebrate all veterans, not just those who

served in World War I (United States

Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007.)

With a lot of help a bill for the holiday was then

pushed through Congress.

President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill into law on

May 26, 1954.

Congress amended this act on

November 8, 1954, by replacing

"Armistice" with Veterans, therefore

renaming it Veterans Day (United

States Department of Veterans Affairs,

2007.)

Thanks To All Veterans

• Past…Present andFuture…

- For our freedom…–For the benefits of a democratic society…–For the sacrifices you have and will continue to make…

• Remember to say thank you to all men and women who are veterans.

• Remember, your rights and freedoms are protected each day by men and women who serve or who have served in our armed forces.