Today is Veterans Day, which is a day to honor and thank the military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. It was originally celebrated as Armistice Day after the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.
Thanking Veterans
Picture of the Day for November 11, 2019
Today we honor all military personnel, living and deceased, who served our country in war or peace, and to thank them for their patriotism and their sacrifice on this Veterans Day.
Honoring Our Veterans
Picture of the Day for November 11, 2018
One hundred years ago, World War I formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Veterans Day grew from Armistice Day, which pays tribute to all American veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Remembering on Veterans Day
Picture of the Day for November 11, 2015
Today is Veterans Days, which celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. The federal holiday originally was called Armistice Day, marking the anniversary of World War I when the Armistice with Germany went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans” to honor all United States Armed Forces veterans and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
Today is also the 75th anniversary of the Armistice Day Blizzard (before the holiday was called Veterans Day) which impacted the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. The morning of November 11, 1940 brought with it unseasonably high temperatures so many duck hunter took advantage of the nice day. When the weather turned quickly, most of the hunters were not prepared for the snowfalls of up to 27 inches, winds of 50 to 80 mph, 20-foot snow drifts and the temperature drop of 50 degrees and many froze to death. A total of 145 deaths were blamed on the storm, which included crew from three freighters on Lake Michigan.
Today a strong Veterans Day storm is impacting the same area, 75 years later, but at least there is improved weather forecasting and the nearly two inches of precipitation will be in the form of rain and not two feet of snow.
Remembering Our Veterans
Picture of the Day for November 11, 2014
Today in the United States, Veterans Day is celebrated to honor all those who have served in the Armed Forces. The origins of the holiday dates back to Armistice Day, when President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 proclaimed November 11 as a remembrance of the armistice calling for a ceasefire for World War I the year before.
Since the ‘war to end all wars’ didn’t end all war, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law in 1954 to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all the veterans, not just from WWI. And while Memorial Day celebrates men and women who died while serving, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all military veterans.
But for me on this Veterans Day, a special remembrance to all the veterans who did not died in service but who are no longer with us and whose family have heard the playing of taps for their loved one this past year.
Veterans Day
