Congress passed a
resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a
national holiday beginning in 1938. Veterans Day is not to be confused with
Memorial Day -- which honors American service members who died in service to
their country, or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while
Veterans Day pays tribute to all American Veterans--living or dead--and gives
thanks to living Veterans who served their country honorably during war or
peacetime.
In 1954, President Eisenhower officially changed the name of
the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress,
which moved the celebration of Veterans Day Veterans Day to the fourth Monday
in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 President Ford
returned to November 11, due to the important historical significance of the
date.
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on
November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely
at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues
inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans'
organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor
and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.
Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military
Veterans. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is
usually observed on November 11th. 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.
The United States also celebrated Armistice
Day on November 11th until Al King, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner
campaigned to update it to ‘All’ Veterans Day. With the help of then U.S.
Representative Ed Rees and President Dwight Eisenhower, Congress amended this
act on November 8, 1954, replacing ‘Armistice’ with Veterans, and it has been
known as Veterans Day. [Wikipedia]
Veterans Facts
The brave men and women who serve and protect the U.S. come
from all walks of life; they are parents, children and grandparents. They are
friends, neighbors and coworkers, and an important part of their communities.
Here are some facts about the current Veteran population of the United States.
There are now approximately 23.2 million Veterans living in
the United States.
· 9.2 million Veterans are over the age of 65.
· 1.9 million Veterans are under the age of 35.
· 1.8 million Veterans are women.
· 7.8 million Veterans served during the Vietnam
War era (1964-1975)
· 5.2 million Veterans served during the Gulf War
(Aug. 2, 1990, to present).
· 2.6 million Veterans served during World War II
(1941-1945).
· 2.8 million Veterans served during the Korean
War (1950-1953).
· 6 million Veterans served in peacetime
Here are some of my favorite websites for families of Veterans who are deployed:
My friend Kathryn Sneed is a military wife, mother and blogger.
Visit her at http://www.singingthroughtherain.net/
My dad is a US Navy Veteran (pilot), my husband is a US Navy Veteran, my father-in-law was a US Air Force Veteran, and our son is an active duty US Marine officer serving on his first deployment in the Mideast aboard the USS Iwo Jima. We are a true military family and salute our Veterans. Ooh-Rah !
 |
| Our son at his commissioning with my dad and husband |
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your stopping by Merrie. God bless :)
ReplyDelete