Veterans Day, celebrated each year on November 11th, was first celebrated on this same date in 1919, under the name of Armistice Day. The holiday was named in remembrance of the temporary ceasefire that brought about the unofficial end to World War I when, the year before, the Allied forces entered into an armistice with the Germans, stopping live battle on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
A year later, and nearly five months after the official end of the First World War (which occurred on June 28, 1918, with the Treaty of Versailles), President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th the first commemoration with the following:
“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 the gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
He called for parades and public gatherings and a brief moment of silence at 11a.m. Two years later, on November 11, 1921, an unidentified American soldier was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in what became known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Celebrating America’s Heroes: Armistice Day
It wasn’t just the United States that remembered the end of the great war; countries around the world celebrated Armistice Day in 1919, and many still do today. In Canada, they call it Remembrance Day, and Great Britain celebrates Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of each November.
In 1926, a Congressional resolution was passed, making Armistice Day a recurring federal holiday, stating that it should be “commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.” As a side note, the federal government can’t force the states into celebrating a holiday, as it’s not within its jurisdiction, but most states adopt the federal holiday calendar.
Celebrating America’s Veterans: Veterans Day
Although the ceasefire – believed to have occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 – was the end of the war to end all wars, history has shown the naivete of the era.
Perhaps the Allied forces showed too much sympathy with the Treaty of Versailles. By the time the war-ending document was signed, seven months after the armistice in November, much of the Allied troops had returned home. And no one, not the United States nor Britain nor France, wanted to remain in Germany or Austria to make sure the terms of the treaty were enforced. What’s more, the Treaty did not require an unconditional surrender; the German troops, although defeated, were not disbanded.
As the embittered Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, supreme commander of the Allied forces, presciently concluded of the Versailles settlement: “This is not peace. It is an armistice for 20 years.”
Foch was right. Twenty years after the 1919 settlement, the German army under Hitler – himself a decorated veteran of World War I who helped to spin the yarn that the German army hadn’t been defeated in the field, but instead betrayed by the Jews at home – invaded Poland to start World War II, which would cost the world roughly four times as many lives as World War I.
This time, over 16 million American soldiers, a whopping 42 percent of war-aged men, headed out to battle. And while we lost over 400,000 to the war, many of those men and women returned home. Shortly thereafter, tension began to rise in Korea, and by 1950, the Korean War began. Another 1.8 million troops were again sent across the sea.
By the end of the summer of 1953, after the Korean War ended, about one in every two service-age men were veterans and it was decided that Armistice Day would be officially be changed to Veterans Day – honoring all veterans from all wars.
Changing Throughout the Years: Veterans Day Today
Throughout the years, Veterans Day has changed, sometimes to its benefit and sometimes not. For instance, in 1968, the federal holiday – along with Memorial Day, George Washington’s birthday, and Columbus Day – was switched to a Monday celebration to help encourage travel and tourism in the country.
A few years later, in the brief period from 1971 to 1975, the date was changed again. Instead of the Monday closest to the original Armistice Day, the government opted to set Veterans Day as the fourth Monday in October.
This change wasn’t joyfully accepted by the American public, as many held emotional ties to the origins of Veterans Day. After a few years, the date was reverted back to November 11th.
Now, a century from the original remembrance of Armistice Day, the holiday is still celebrated on November 11th. If the 11th day of the 11th month falls on a Saturday, the day is observed on the previous Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.
Different areas celebrate Veterans Day in different ways. Most public schools close (normally on the Monday closest to the holiday), as do all federal buildings, most banks, and many businesses. There are parades and celebrations to honor veterans. Perhaps the most iconic is the annual wreath laying ceremony that happens at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Many areas still observe a moment of silence at 11a.m. to remember all veterans, those that are still here, those that have gone on, and those that never made it home. It’s also not uncommon to see the American flag flown at half mast.
Regardless of political leanings, Veterans Day is about recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of America’s veterans. If you want to show support, attend a parade. Volunteer at your local VFW. Visit a VA hospital and spend some time talking to the men and women who are unable to attend such events. And when you see a vet, shake their hand, and thank them for their service.
Veterans Day: The Forgotten History of America’s Veterans Day and What It Commemorates originally appeared in the Resistance Library at Ammo.com.
Thank you to those that have served
First! Just kidding. I am a veteran. Never in harms way mostly in the rear with the gear. The people I have met and know that are veterans are some of the finest people I have ever met and many are my best friends to this day. I still work with many active duty military and they just want to do the best for their fellow service members and this country. The politicians will do what they do which is not much. News flash DOD is still under a CR…Continuing Resolution… because Congress no longer does its job. The military members of this country still do their jobs which amazes me given our current state of affairs. Duty Honor Country!
Ok I was second to the wonder of it all….your welcome!
MY gg grandfather was a 1st Lt. 17th Va. Infantry, CSA. Wounded, captured in ’63 in a rear guard action covering Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg. Sent to Johnson’s Island Prison Camp, Sandusky, Ohio. Released upon taking the “oath of allegiance in June, ’65.
My grandfather was a Corporal, US Army, “Lost Battalion”, WWI. He came home.
My father was a Master Sgt., 82nd Airborne, WWII. He came home.
I was a Corporal, USMC, Danang, Viet Nam. Most of me came home.
My God! How I Love America!
God Bless All Of You.
This is also the day, that most Veterans, who have to work day jobs, do not get the day off, much less paid; while gov employees, office and bank people, 90% who have never served in the military, get the day off with pay…
And, then there is the issue of the treatment of Veterans, many of whom are treated quite badly. There are an average of 40,000 Veterans homeless, across the country. Then, there is the issue of Veteran suicide, there is an average of 22 per day. Since the “Great War”, as many Veterans have committed suicide as were killed in the wars; the Vietnam war was the worst – more Vietnam Veterans have committed suicide than were killed there.
No one ever addresses the “why” of all this, who really pushes these wars; the truth is forbidden and little understood. But one statement says it all:
“Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” – Henry Kissinger
Does anyone really think they care about Veterans Day?
Thank you for coming to blow up Europe twice and destroying the last vestiges of our Monarchies, clearing a path for communism to take over half of the world.
oops, our bad!
Thank the English aristocracy, and their owners…
We bankers thank you for sacrificing your lives on the alter of the our New World Order. We bankers know that our mission was successful when we convinced you that you were fighting for your country’s freedom.
“All wars are bankers wars” ~ Smedly Butler
Turned to hamburger or killed so some satanic bankers can maximize their profits, but here’s your token day of celebration to wrap yourself in a flag and celebrate. Bring them all home already. Let the sons and daughters of the politicians, bankers and profiteers go fight their bullshit wars.
There comes a time when we need warriors and they are few and far between. I hate those that use them to get rich .
Truthfully, nearly ever time you need them to fight for freedom and liberty at HOME, not 10,000 miles away.
My father enlisted in the U.S. army and was shipped to the Pacific during WW2 with a child on the way. He was a veteran. I was forcibly conscripted into the U.S. army but am not a veteran. Nobody who has been in the armed forces since VJ Day is a vet. When the Congress formally declares war against a legitimate foe, then maybe we can again consider the term “veteran”.
I get your narrow meaning, but I actually would expand the meaning to include those classified as innocent bystanders and unwilling participants. We all have lost people to a variety of lost causes launched by the Medical-Military Industry that feeds the Congress Critters.
We are pretty much ALL Veterans by now.
After all I have learned about our criminal banking ” money ” scam which I believe is a curse on the whole world I’m glad my grandfather and father didn’t know the truth. They were both good men who believe in America and were willing to die for what they believe. They both died when America was still America . I’m glad they are not here to see what we have become as a nation. I don’t have a lot of hope for the future and I feel sorry for all the young white children coming of age who will have to face the full consequences of the treasonous bastards Washington DC.