November 11th is Veterans Day! This is the holiday that we recognize and honor all past and present military who have served our country. Unlike Memorial Day, which remembers the fallen, this day celebrates those who served in war – and got to come home.

This holiday is celebrated each year on November 11th, which is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. Veterans Day originally started off as Armistice Day in 1919 but in 1954, President Eisenhower changed the name to what it is today. This commemoration became a legal holiday through an act of Congress in 1938. Similar “Remembrance Day” celebrations take place worldwide as well.

Today, there are over 20-million veterans living in the United States and this holiday is for them. We honor those veterans for their patriotism and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the good of our country.

When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, it’s observed on Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it would be observed on that Monday with federal and state offices closed, with many municipal offices shuttered as well. So no, you’re not getting mail, your garbage isn’t getting picked up and your bank is closed.
And by the way…Veterans Day moved around at one point. From 1971 to 1977, following an amendment to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day observances were moved to the fourth Monday of October. There was an outcry against that move and in 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a bill that returned the observance to November 11, beginning in 1978.

Chuck Britton

About Chuck Britton