Veteran's Day Fun Facts
Fun Fact #566
Armistice Day
In 1921, an unknown soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11am – the Anniversary of the ending of World War 1. That day soon became the Holiday “Armistice Day” and it was meant to Honor those who died in WW1.While its scope has changed over the years to now include the Veterans of all Wars, Armistice day is still celebrated by the majority of Countries in the world. Except The United States now knows it by a different name: Veteran’s day.
This year (2024) marks the 77th Anniversary of Veterans Day, so please take some time to honor those who have fought in wars both past and present, Living and dead. In fact it is intended especially to Honor those still living, and to acknowledge that they too have sacrificed much in defending and protecting The Country. Legally it is recommended that 2 minutes of Silence be observed at 2:11 EST (1:11CST in Illinois).
If you are a Veteran, Thank you. We owe you a debt for the Time, dedication, and sacrifices you made just so we can be safe and free. I pray that all goes well for you.
"The Nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." --President Calvin Coolidge 1929,
“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” --Winston Churchill in reference to Armistice Day.
Official 2023 Memorial Day poster from The Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Fun Fact #567
The Father Of Veteran’s Day
It used to be The US celebrated Armistice day on November 11th but today we Celebrate Veteran’s Day so how did this change come to occur?
The answer starts in the unlikely town of Birmingham, Alabama, with a man by the name of “Raymond Weeks”. Growing up he knew his father and many others who served in the First world war and held Armistice day in high regard for the Honor it gave to the men who served in “The War to end all Wars”. Yet it was not the end, and Raymond soon found himself signing up to fight in World War 2. There he saw several men die but also a great many wounded, disabled, and traumatized. He also learned how his father became severely sick shortly after he was sent abroad yet was unable to return until after the war had ended, to find his father had died. He later said that the war taught him “the true meaning of sacrifice”.
Yet the only Holidays to Honor Veterans were either dedicated to those who died in Service (Memorial Day), or exclusively to World War 1. Only The G.A.R. Veterans Halls honored those from the other conflicts. Thus Raymond sought to correct this oversight by expanding Armistice day to celebrate those from all wars, and founded “The National Veterans Day Volunteer Organization beginning with a simple Parade. The Name Veterans Day was chosen very purposefully instead of Veteran’s Day because the day is now “Owned” by any veteran but rather given in Honor to all US Veterans. Which is why spelling it with an apostrophe is considered an insult.
Together with a coalition of other Veteran’s groups, Raymond wrote and delivered a petition to then Army Chief of Staff General Dwight Eisenhower. In 1954 President Eisenhower officially changed Armistice day to Veterans Day. Later President Ronald Regan presented Raymond with “The Presidential Citizens Medal” for his dedication to honoring all who have served in the Military.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” --Ronald Reagan
Raymond Weeks delivering the Petition to create Veterans Day to General Dwight Eisenhower in 1947.
