Dates in History

Veteran’s Day – A Day for Honor, A Day for Remembrance
Every November 11, Americans take a day to honor and remember military veterans and those who’ve served in the armed services. Veteran’s Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1918 as a day to celebrate the end of World War I. While World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the actual fighting between the Allies and Germany ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918.

In 1953, a shoe store owner from Emporia named Al King thought it would be a good idea to change Armistice Day into an “All” Veteran’s Day. With the help of then U.S. Rep. Ed Rees (also form Emporia) a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress, and on May 26, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that changed the named to Veteran’s Day in order to honor veterans of all who had served the nation in wars and conflicts.

Both a federal and a state holiday throughout the country, Veteran’s Day is always celebrated on November 11 of each year; however if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, either Friday or Monday, respectively, is designated a day off for workers. In 1968, new laws changed the national commemoration of Veteran’s Day to the fourth Monday in October, but it became apparent that November 11 was a day of historic significance. Ten years later, Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

The Tomb of the Unknowns
Officially, national ceremonies for Veteran’s Day center around The Tomb of the Unknowns, a section of the Arlington National Cemetery that contains the remains of unknown American soldiers from World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict and (until 1998), the Vietnam War. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard keeps vigil day and night.

At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes

“Present Arms” at the Tomb; the nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of “Taps.” Locally, Veterans Day is celebrated with parades, ceremonies and other events to honor veterans, flying the flag, and visiting hospitals.

U.S. Veterans by the Numbers
• The number of military veterans in the United States: 24.9 million
• The number of veterans who are women: 1.7 million
• The number of veterans age 65 or over: 9.7 million
• The number of Vietnam-era veterans: 8.2 million
• The number of states with 1 million or more veterans: Six – California, Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Veterans Information Online
To find out more about veterans and veteran affairs, check out these Web sites:
American Legion National Headquarters: www.legion.org
AMVets National Headquarters: www.amvets.org
Department of Veteran Affairs: www.va.gov
Disabled American Veterans: www.dav.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars: www.vfw.org
Want to find out if you have ancestors who were U.S. veterans? Visit Main Library or the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center to use Broward County Library’s genealogy database, www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Veterans Day Books
Veteran’s Day by Jacqueline S. Cotton
Click here to view this item in the library’s catalog or to place a hold.

Veteran’s Day by Mari C. Schuh
Click here to view this item in the library’s catalog or to place a hold.

Patriotic Holidays of the United States by Helene Henderson
Click here to view this item in the library’s catalog or to place a hold.

The Veteran’s Day Visitor by Peter Catalanotto and Pamela Schembri
Click here to view this item in the library’s catalog or to place a hold.

El Dia de los Veteranos by Marlene Targ Brill
Click here to view this item in the library’s catalog or to place a hold.