MFRI sat down with External Relations Director Beth Johnson, a military wife, sibling and daughter and sifted through some important yet oft-forgotten facts about this day to honor veterans.
1. First, the details: There are approximately 23.2 million military veterans in the United States — 1.8 million of them women. And oh, yes: let’s lose the apostrophe. It’s Veterans Day, not Veterans’ or Veteran’s Day.
2. A Grand Old Lady: It’s hard to believe, but this holiday is nearly a century old! The first commemoration took place Nov. 11, 1919 under the name “Armistice Day.” Designed to honor World War I veterans, Nov. 11 was chosen because it was the one-year anniversary of the suspension of the Great War’s hostilities. Cities throughout the U.S. held parades and at 11 a.m. – the time the armistice took effect — businesses suspended operations briefly. Even today, in Britain and Europe, two minutes of silence still take place on what they call Remembrance Day.
3. A new name: In 1954, President Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to commemorate veterans of all wars.
4. Wait, what? For a few years, Veterans Day was in October. That’s because Congress passed a law that in 1971 moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in that month. That lasted until 1975 when President Gerald Ford returned the celebration to Nov. 11, due to the important historical significance of the date.
5. Honoring the Unknown: One of the most moving of Veterans Day commemorations must have taken place in 1921 at Arlington National Cemetery. That’s the day that the first Unknown Soldier was reburied at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Inscribed at the tomb are the words, “Here rests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to God." This is a fitting homage to all who have served, and we hope all will take time to pause, reflect and honor the veterans and their families who helped secure the American values that we hold so dear.