Veterans Day is this Wednesday, November 11. Here is a little background I found. It is both a federal holiday and a state holiday. In other parts of the world it is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. November 11 is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. The major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I. He began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into “All” Veterans Day. With the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954.
There are events across the nation and throughout the world this Wednesday to honor veterans. Here are a few…
The Yorktown Veterans Day Ceremony Yorktown, Virginia
Serving Their Country: American Indian Politics and Patriotism in the 20th Century Washington D.C.
Veterans Day Commemoration King of Prussia, PA
Connect with A Day’s Outing on Facebook and Twitter!
