Remember Our Veterans On November 11th

Veterans Day, was once known as Armistice Day, and was set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'"

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the U.S. Congress at the urging of the veterans service organizations singed the Act of 1938 by taking out the word "Armistice" and replacing it with the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars, and Veterans Day was born.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

My dad would always go out on Veterans Day morning to sell poppy flowers to show support for all the veterans has well as represent his American Legion Post. Buying a poppy flower which are made by disabled war veterans helps veterans in your city or town.

The poppy flower became a symbol with veterans because of the famous poem "In Flanders Fields," written by John McCrae in 1915. In it he described the graves of soldiers among the fields of poppies:
In 1915 an American named Moina Michael was so inspired by this poem that she not only wore a poppy flower, but also did sell red poppies on Memorial Day to benefit servicemen who were in need. The poppy flower has now became a symbol of honor and remembrance for servicemen who died in all wars, and the poppy flower is now associated with Veteran's Day as well as Memorial Day.

Other countries have similar observances involving poppies on Nov. 11, Canadians wear red poppies on this day, and in Great Britain, wreaths of poppies are laid at a London war memorial.

Always support and remember your local veterans because they are the ones that are responsible for keeping your  country’s freedom that you and I enjoy, and many lost their life to keep that freedom for us. Wear a red poppy in memory of the sacrifices of war and also as a symbol of keeping the faith.

Veterans Day is always observed on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is always held on Veterans Day itself, even if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.Like any other federal holidays, when it falls on a non-workday Saturday or Sunday the federal government employees take the day off on Monday or Friday, whichever the case may be.

This federal law does not apply to state or local governments. They are free to chose to close local government buildings (including school) locally. As such, there is no legal requirement that schools close of Veterans Day, and some may not. But most schools may hold a Veterans Day activities on Veterans Day to honor all American veterans.

Some Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor military personnel who died in battle, but it is not Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead.

Veterans Day honors all American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank those veterans still alive for dedicated service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we make sure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in their lives to keep our country free. So if you have the chance thank a veteran for the freedom you enjoy today.