Did you know that there are nearly 20 million veterans in the United States who have served our country? Veterans Day, November 11 each year, has been observed for 68 years and it is a day just as cherished as other national holidays. If you have loved ones who have served in our armed forces, you should take a moment to thank them for their sacrifice.
Here are some details about this honorable day for veterans:
- Armistice Day was the precursor to Veterans Day in 1919.
- November 11 was chosen because WW1 was ended when an armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
- President Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to reflect the honor for veterans for all wars.
- The Tomb of the Unkown Soldier is the resting place of an unidentified American soldier killed in the war (buried on November 11, 1921).
Both my father and my father-in-law were war veterans (Korea and WW2, respectively), along with various siblings, uncles and cousins on both sides of our families. One of our sons is a veteran along with one of his sons. I have a grandfather who was drafted in both WW1 and WW2 (I have both of his draft cards!). Did you know that there are over 1.3 million active duty service personnel currently in our military?
America has a lot to be thankful for in our history, but much of that gratitude should be directed to our veterans.
Find out more at Veterans Day 2022: Founding, Fact & Meaning. Also, some interesting facts at Veterans Day by the numbers: 8 facts about the federal holiday.
