Veterans Day is held on November 11th of each year to honor all those who have served in the U.S. military. Join us as we count down the most interesting facts about this holiday of remembrance and celebration.
- In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson named November 11th Armistice Day and in 1938, it became a legal holiday.
- The first national holiday to celebrate Veterans Day was held in 1947 and in 1954 Armistice Day legally became Veterans Day.
- World War I formally ended on November 11th, at the 11th hour. It is also the 11th month.
- Originally, when known as Armistice Day, it was meant to honor those who died in World War I, but when it was amended in the early 1940s, it was changed to honor all the veterans who have served in the U.S. military.
- In 1971, Veterans Day was moved to be the fourth Monday in October. In 1978 it went back to being November 11th.
- Each year on Veterans Day there is a ceremony held in Arlington Cemetery to honor all who have died in war.
- There were approximately 400,000 members of the United States military killed during World War II.
- In 1921, on November 11th, an American soldier was buried at Arlington Cemetery. His identity was unknown and as such, his gravesite is called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On November 11th a wreath is laid on the grave during a ceremony by the president or by a high-ranking member of the government.
- In 2011 it was estimated that approximately 8.1% of veterans in the United States are women.
- Approximately 35% of the veterans living today served in the United States military in the Vietnam War.
Learn More About Veterans Day.
Leave a Reply