Veterans Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veterans Day |
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U.S. World War I veteran Joseph Ambrose (1896–1988) at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial parade in 1982. He is wearing his old uniform and holding the flag from his son's casket. His son died in the Korean War.
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| Also called | Armistice Day |
| Observed by | United States |
| Type | National |
| Celebrations | Veterans Day parades |
| Date | November 11 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Remembrance Day |
Veterans Day is a special day in the United States that we celebrate every year on November 11. It's a national holiday to honor all the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. These are people who were part of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard and were honorably discharged.
This holiday started out as Armistice Day. It marks the end of World War I, a very big war that ended on November 11, 1918. Many other countries also celebrate this day, calling it Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.
It's important to know that Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day. On Veterans Day, we celebrate all military veterans, whether they are still with us or not. Memorial Day, which is in May, is a day to remember and honor those who died while serving in the military. There's also Armed Forces Day, which honors people who are currently serving in the U.S. military. Some states also have Women Veterans Day to specifically honor women who have served.
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History of Veterans Day
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 AM. This moment was called the Armistice with Germany. An armistice is like a ceasefire or a peace agreement.
On November 11, 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson spoke about the first Armistice Day. He said it was a day for Americans to feel proud of the heroes who served and died for their country. He also said it was a day to be thankful for peace and justice.
The U.S. Congress, which is like the country's law-making body, officially made November 11 a legal holiday in 1938. It was called "Armistice Day" and was meant to be a day for world peace.
The Idea for Veterans Day
After World War II, a veteran named Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had a new idea. He thought Armistice Day should celebrate all veterans, not just those from World War I. He wanted to honor everyone who had served.
Raymond Weeks started the first national celebration of this idea in Alabama in 1947. He kept leading these celebrations every year until he passed away in 1985. President Ronald Reagan even honored him in 1982, calling him the "Father of Veterans Day."
A U.S. representative named Ed Rees from Emporia, Kansas, helped make this idea a law. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was also from Kansas, signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954. A short time later, Congress changed the name from "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day." Since then, November 11 has been known as Veterans Day.
How Veterans Day is Observed
Veterans Day is always on November 11. For a few years, from 1971 to 1977, it was moved to the fourth Monday of October. But in 1978, it was moved back to its original date, November 11.
If November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, federal workers usually get the Friday before or the Monday after off. This way, they still get to observe the holiday.
On Veterans Day, many federal government offices are closed, and mail is not delivered. It's a day for people to remember and thank veterans for their service. It is also suggested that people observe two minutes of silence at 2:11 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Spelling of Veterans Day
You might sometimes see the holiday written as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day. However, the official spelling, according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, is Veterans Day without an apostrophe.
They explain that it's not a day that "belongs" to veterans. Instead, it's a day for honoring all veterans.
See also
In Spanish: Día de los Veteranos (Estados Unidos) para niños
