November 11th is typically marked on each and every one of our calendars as Veterans Day. It is not uncommon to see a slew of honorary events in your local community that commemorate Veterans. Many schools, retirement communities, or churches will have a Veterans Day presentation filled with speakers and music. However, many people have forgotten why Veterans Day is held on November 11th every year.
The reason Veterans Day is held on November 11th is because this was the official day that fighting was ceased during WWI.
“An armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” -History of Veterans Day, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Veterans Day became a legal holiday when an Act was approved on May 13th, 1938. This Act made November 11th the official day in which the nation can honor and celebrate Veterans. In October of 1938, Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a “Veterans Day Proclamation” to insure that Veterans Day was to be observed properly.
Happy Veterans Day to all who currently serve and have previously served our country. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
-Hannah Schaenzer