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Did You Know…Veterans Day Facts

older adult man representing a Veteran standing with arms crossed smiling for photo

Veterans Day is a well-known American holiday, but there are several common misconceptions. Here are some interesting facts you may not know known about Veterans Day:

Veterans Day does not have an apostrophe.

You may sometimes see Veterans Day spelled as “Veteran’s Day” or “Veterans’ Day,” but this is incorrect. The holiday is not a day that “belongs” to one veteran or multiple veterans, which is what an apostrophe indicates. It’s a day for honoring all veterans, so no apostrophe is needed.

Veterans Day is not the same as Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a day to memorialize those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds suffered in battle. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served the country in war or peace, dead or alive, although it’s primarily intended to thank living veterans for their service.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day.

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months earlier when the Allied nations and Germany put into effect an armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Consequently, November 11, 1918 was generally considered the day the war ended, and was later named Armistice Day. In 1938, it became an official holiday intended to honor veterans of World War I. However, following World War II and the Korean War, Congress amended the holiday by changing the word “armistice” to “veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars.

Other countries also celebrate November 11.

World War I was a multinational effort, so other Allied nations commemorate their veterans on November 11 as well. Canada and Australia both call November 11 “Remembrance Day.” Canada’s observance is similar to our own, except many of its citizens wear red poppy flowers to honor their veterans. In Australia, the day is more like our Memorial Day. The United Kingdom observes “Remembrance Day” on the second Sunday of November with parades, services, and two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. to honor those who lost their lives in war.

Source: www.defense.gov

Thank You Veterans–Honoring All Those Who Served

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