Is today Veterans Day? What to know about federal holiday honoring those who have served

Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times
·3 min read
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Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11. It is a day to celebrate and remember those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

The federal holiday always falls on Nov. 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls, and has been observed in one form or another since 1919, when President Wilson proclaimed it as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

It was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1938 and became known as Veterans Day in 1954.

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Who does Veterans Day honor?

Veterans Day honors all who have served honorable in the United States Armed Forces, both during at times of peace and war.

Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an “s” at the end of “veterans” because it is not a day that “belongs” to veterans. It is a day for honoring all veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

What does Veterans Day celebrate?

Veterans Day is a day set aside to thank and honor all who served honorably in the military, whether in wartime or peacetime.

It is different from Memorial Day — that federal holiday is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in combat.

Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and underscore that all those who served have made a sacrifice.

What to say to a veteran on Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a time to express gratitude to those who have served and to recognize their contributions to preserving the freedoms and liberties we hold dear.

Veterans can be thanked for their service or for serving our country, according to soldierangels.org.

What was Veterans Day originally called?

Congress first recognized the day in 1926, and it became an official holiday in 1938. The day was known as "Armistice Day" and was primarily meant to celebrate World War I veterans.

In 1954, following both World War II and the Korean War, the word "armistice" was changed to "veterans" to honor veterans of all American wars. The day Veterans Day was celebrated moved a few times over the years, but President Gerald Ford moved it back to its annual observance on the Nov. 11 date by 1978.

USA Today contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Is today Veterans Day? What to know about the federal holiday