Why Do We Commemorate Veterans Day?

            Tomorrow is Veterans Day, a day to recognize and honor all the people who have served in the military forces of our nation. Veterans Day was once Armistice Day. “Armistice Day” was first commemorated on November 11, 1919, to remember the end of hostilities of World War I on November 11, 1918 – a day that marked the end of “the war to end all wars.” The official end of the war came at the “eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.”

            Congress officially recognized Armistice Day in 1926, and in 1938 it became an official holiday to honor the veterans of World War I. Then the world went to war again in World War II and the Korean War, and there were many more veterans deserving honor. Veterans service organizations urged an amendment to the commemoration, and Congress acted on June 1, 1954, amend it. They changed the word “armistice” to “veterans,” and the day now honors all American veterans of all wars.

            Congress acted again in 1968 when it created the Uniform Holiday Bill, a bill that some federal holidays would be celebrated on a Monday. This was done to create more three-day weekends with the hope that there would be more travel and celebrations to stimulate the economy. Veterans Day was one of the holidays moved to a Monday. This site has the following information about Veterans Day. 

For some inexplicable reason, the bill set Veterans Day commemorations for the fourth Monday of every October.

On Oct. 25, 1971, the first Veterans Day under this new bill was held. We’re not sure why it took three years to implement, but not surprisingly, there was a lot of confusion about the change, and many states were unhappy, choosing to continue to recognize the day as they previously had – in November.

Within a few years, it became pretty apparent that most U.S. citizens wanted to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, since it was a matter of historic and patriotic significance. So on Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed another law (Public Law 94-97), which returned the annual observance to its original date starting in 1978.

World War I was a multinational effort, so it makes sense that our allies also wanted to celebrate their veterans on Nov. 11. The name of the day and the types of commemorations differ, however.

Canada and Australia both call Nov. 11 “Remembrance Day.” Canada’s observance is pretty similar to our own, except many of its citizens wear red poppy flowers to honor their war dead. In Australia, the day is more akin to our Memorial Day.

Great Britain calls it “Remembrance Day,” too, but observes it on the Sunday closest to Nov. 11 with parades, services and two minutes of silence in London to honor those who lost their lives in war.

            It is right for us to observe Veterans Day on November 11 because of the purpose for which it was first commemorated – remembrance for the end of World War I. The day is also celebrated by other nations. There is a difference between Veterans Day and Memorial in the United States. Memorial Day honors the people who lost their lives in service to the nation, while Veterans Day pay tribute to all American veterans – living or dead.