Veteran's Day, A holiday to honor and remember.
Each year on November 11th, we celebrate Veterans Day. While some Americans may think this holiday is to recognize those veterans who lost their lives while fighting for their country, this is not the case. This holiday was created so that we would remember all American soldiers, including those who are still in active duty. In other words: Veterans Day honors all American veterans, living or dead. But Veterans Day didn’t always carry this title.
The original Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day. After World War I ceremonies were held to celebrate the end of the war. Each year at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month a celebration was held. This became internationally known as Armistice Day. In 1921, the United States laid to rest the remains of a World War I American soldier -- his name "known but to God" -- on a Virginia hillside overlooking Washington DC and the Potomac River. This site would later become known as the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” The "Tomb of the Unknowns”, as it is called today is Located in Arlington National Cemetery. Millions have visited this site to pay homage and respect for all American Veterans. Congress passed an act in 1926 to male Armistice Day official. But it would take 12 more years before it finally became a national holiday
.Many believed that World War I would be the end of all wars. But to their surprise in 1939 another War broke out; World War II. This war proved to be worse than its predecessor, ending with over 400,000 causalities. After Raymond Weeks organized a "Veterans Day" parade on November 11th 1947 to honor all of America's veterans Congressman Edward H. Rees proposed to legislation that the name of Armistice Day be changed to Veterans Day . He felt that all Americans who fought in any war should be honored on this special day. Seven years later in 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill that declared November 11th Veterans Day.
On November 11th each year at exactly 11: AM a color guard (made up of members from each of the military branches) honors American soldiers who have lost their lives with a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. As a bugler makes his tap sounds the President places a wreath on the tomb. The rest of the ceremony can be seen in the Amphitheater.
Many good men have fought in honor of our great nation. As far back as the Civil War, boys who barely reached puberty lost their lives while fighting bloody battles. Today there are women and men who have volunteered to stand brave for our country. Some will leave home and not have the chance to return and see their families again. Others are more fortunate and have been able to come home to their loved ones. Each night when we go to sleep, most of us have warm and comfortable beds we can curl up in. For some men and women the only bed they have is a ditch with a card board box. And they’re probably sleeping with one eye shut for fear of losing their lives at any given moment. This scene is enough in itself to take a moment on November 11th to honor our brave American soldiers.
For more information and history about Veteran's Day click here.