Did You Know?
- Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day: The holiday began as a celebration of the end of World War I. The fighting officially stopped on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 19181.
- There’s a reason for the spelling: Have you noticed that there’s no apostrophe in “Veterans Day”? That’s intentional! The holiday doesn’t belong to veterans, it’s a day to honor all veterans, hence “Veterans Day” and not “Veteran’s Day.”
- Veterans Day and Memorial Day serve different purposes: While both holidays honor the military, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country, particularly those who died in battle or from wounds sustained in battle. Veterans Day honors all veterans, living or dead, but it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their service.
- A special ceremony is held every Veterans Day: A ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The ceremony takes place exactly at 11 a.m.
- The number of veterans in the United States is in the millions: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were approximately 20 million U.S. veterans as of 20172.
- Veterans come from all walks of life: Veterans are diverse! They represent all races, genders, religions, and ethnicities. What unites them is their service to our country.
- We can thank a shoe store owner for the restoration of the holiday: Veterans Day became a “Monday holiday” in 1971 (always observed on the fourth Monday in October) but in 1975 it was returned to its original date by President Gerald Ford. This was largely due to the efforts of a shoe store owner named Al King from Emporia, Kansas, who wanted to preserve the historical significance of the date1.
- The oldest veteran: The oldest known living veteran in the United States is Lawrence Brooks, who celebrated his 112th birthday in September 2021.
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