Why Do We Celebrate Veterans Day? 10 Things To Know About This Holiday

Our country will honor its veterans this November 11, bringing a great sense of pride by honoring the brave heroes who continue to fight for the freedom of our nation. Yet, many people

are often confused

on why

do we celebrate this holiday, while some are clueless

of the history behind it. Here are 10 simple facts about why it's important to thank and commemorate our veterans on this special day.

1. Veterans Day was called “Armistice Day."

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed this day as the first commemoration with the following 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 of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

2. Other countries honor their veterans each year on November 11, although the name and types of commemorations are different.

3. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, an armistice went into effect and all fighting between the allied nations and Germany ceased.

4. It became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938 and

on that same year on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name Armistice Day to Veterans Day, and stated, "

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

5. This holiday also marks the anniversary of the end of World War I.

6. The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

7.

Veterans Day continues to

be observed on November 11

, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls.

8. Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This holiday celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who gave their lives and those who perished while in service.

9. While the holiday

is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day

in calendars and advertisements, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, states that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling, "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans."

10

.The celebration's main purpose is to honor America's veterans

for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Facts and report attributed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Web site