What Is Veterans Day in the US?
2024-11-11
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1World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in France on June 28, 1919.
2However, fighting had stopped seven months earlier with an armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting, between the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
3The date, November 11, is now remembered as Veterans Day, a holiday to thank and honor all who served in the United States military.
4The celebration first started on November 11, 1919, as Armistice Day.
5At the time, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said the day "will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory..."
6The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says there were plans to observe the day with parades, public meetings, and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
7In 1926, the U.S. Congress officially recognized November 11, 1918, as the end of World War I.
8And in 1938, the body passed legislation to make the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday.
9Known as "Armistice Day," it was a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.
10After American involvement in World War II and the Korean War, at the urging of veterans' organizations, Congress changed the law in 1954 to call it Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
11The date for Veterans Day was changed in 1968 with the signing of the Uniform Holiday Act.
12With the law, Congress intended to create a three-day weekend for Americans by moving the holiday to a Monday in November.
13Many states and veterans' organizations did not agree with this decision.
14They continued to celebrate the holiday on November 11, leading to confusion.
15So, Congress returned the holiday to its original date.
16Many Americans are confused about Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the other holiday honoring military service, which is observed on the last Monday in May.
17The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says that both holidays "were established to recognize and honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces."
18Memorial Day is set aside as a day for remembering and honoring those who died in the service of their country.
19For most Americans, it also marks the unofficial start of summer and a popular weekend for vacationing.
20Veterans Day is largely intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military, living or dead, and in wartime or peace.
21To ensure that people remember Veterans Day, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act in 2016.
22The law called on the people of the United States to observe a two-minute national moment of silence on Veterans Day at 2:11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time across all states and territories of the United States.
23I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in France on June 28, 1919. 2However, fighting had stopped seven months earlier with an armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting, between the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 3The date, November 11, is now remembered as Veterans Day, a holiday to thank and honor all who served in the United States military. 4The celebration first started on November 11, 1919, as Armistice Day. At the time, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson said the day "will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory..." The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says there were plans to observe the day with parades, public meetings, and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. 5In 1926, the U.S. Congress officially recognized November 11, 1918, as the end of World War I. And in 1938, the body passed legislation to make the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday. Known as "Armistice Day," it was a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I. 6After American involvement in World War II and the Korean War, at the urging of veterans' organizations, Congress changed the law in 1954 to call it Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars. 7The date for Veterans Day was changed in 1968 with the signing of the Uniform Holiday Act. With the law, Congress intended to create a three-day weekend for Americans by moving the holiday to a Monday in November. Many states and veterans' organizations did not agree with this decision. They continued to celebrate the holiday on November 11, leading to confusion. So, Congress returned the holiday to its original date. 8Many Americans are confused about Veterans Day and Memorial Day, the other holiday honoring military service, which is observed on the last Monday in May. 9The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says that both holidays "were established to recognize and honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces." 10Memorial Day is set aside as a day for remembering and honoring those who died in the service of their country. For most Americans, it also marks the unofficial start of summer and a popular weekend for vacationing. 11Veterans Day is largely intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military, living or dead, and in wartime or peace. 12To ensure that people remember Veterans Day, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act in 2016. The law called on the people of the United States to observe a two-minute national moment of silence on Veterans Day at 2:11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time across all states and territories of the United States. 13I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 14Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English. 15________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17solemn -adj. done in a serious and respectful way 18gratitude -n. a feeling of thankfulness 19original -adj. what existed first before a following event 20intend -v. to mean to do something; to do something with the idea of having an identifiable effect 21We want to hear from you. 22Our comment policy is here.