Veteran’s Day is 11-11-11 this year. It is always November 11th, so why does adding an extra “11” make this year’s Veteran’s day more special than the other Veteran’s Days from previous years. First guess is because of the 9/11 disaster in 2001 and the 10th anniversary marking that occasion should be used to make all holidays in 2011 that honoring military service special too. While the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is a milestone the country should reflect on, it does not have a connection to 11-11-11. To discovering the significance of this year’s Veteran’s Day one needs to look at history and how Veteran’s Day came to be.
Before it was Veteran’s Day, November 11 was an international day of remembrance called Armistice Day. This was the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War One (WWI). The war formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (11-11-11) in 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. Armistice Day was commemorated the following year by President Woodrow Wilson, and many states made it a legal holiday. A resolution passed by Congress in 1926 urged all Americans to observe the day and it was made a legal holiday in 1938.
On November 11, 1953 a band of rebels in Emporia Kansas staged a daylong celebration of “Veteran’s Day” in lieu of the Armistice Day remembrance. Congressman Ed Rees, the representative for Emporia, later introduced legislation into the House of Representatives requesting the name be changed officially from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day. The name change became permanent with Kansas native and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signing of HR7786. It was enacted on June 1, 1954 to honor those who served in all American wars. This day has since evolved as a time for honoring living veterans who have served in the military honorably during wartime or peacetime.
This federal and state holiday is formally observed mostly by government offices and banks. Just like the Columbus Day holiday in October, most schools and business stay open and operate on their regular schedules. Because businesses and schools are open most public transit systems operate on a regular schedule even though being run by local governments. Businesses and schools cite the holiday’s proximity to Thanksgiving, when many close for a four day weekend, as the main reason for staying open. This results in Veteran’s Day becoming just another government holiday that you don’t get your mail and can’t do any banking.
There are 25 million military veterans in the United States. In or out of uniform, retired, discharged or still serving, American Veterans deserve our THANKS for each and every moment they stood in service to their country protecting our freedoms. They deserve this day! They deserve this day, this day of HONOR!
