On November 11th every year, Americans gather to celebrate a group of people who gave their lives to defend our country. This holiday is known as Veterans Day. We honor the veterans who are still with us today for their bravery and courage during the various different wars that the US has been a part of. 

“Veterans Day allows me to reflect on the people I served with, allows me to look at the people who came before me that served and wonder if I kept that legacy alive,” CHS science teacher Brian Hennigar, who served in the Marine Corps, told the Sandscript

The United States has been celebrating Veterans Day for over 100 years now and has become one of the many federal holidays that the US recognizes. Veterans Day is celebrated with parades, church services, a moment of silence that is held at 11 AM, Ceremonies at Veteran Association’s National Cemeteries, and other things like marathons, concerts and military demonstrations. Veterans Day is also celebrated by other countries like Canada and Great Britain but they call it Remembrance Day and is celebrated on the same day as our holiday. The history of Veteran’s Day dates back to one year after the end of the First World War. On November 11th, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day, which he essentially stated the importance of the First World War to not only the US but the globe and that Armistice Day should also be used as a way to remember those who had sacrificed themselves for their countries. If readers would like to see the full statement it will be linked below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day?scrlybrkr#History

    After many years of disputing whether it should be a federal holiday, Veteran’s Day was made a legal holiday in 1938 and would coincide with Armistice Day which was created to celebrate the end of WWI. In 1945, a WWII veteran named Raymond Weeks had an idea to expand veterans day to celebrate all veterans and not just the ones who died in WW1. Weeks then went to General Dwight D Eisenhower who approved of the idea.  In 1947, Weeks would lead the first national celebration and would continue to celebrate Veterans day up to his death in 1985. Armistice Day would later be changed to Veterans Day on June 1st, 1954 and hasn’t changed since. Another CHS science teacher, Mr. Martino, served in the Army, and told us, “Veterans day represents a day to recognize veterans and the military that fought for and enforced our freedoms.”

     Veterans Day also has a similar counterpart which we know as Memorial Day but there is a big difference people mess up with these two holidays. Memorial Day is to honor those who have died in war and Veterans Day celebrates all Veterans who have served our country. stated Veterans Day is probably one of the most important holidays we have as it serves the end of the First World War, it allows us to look at the service men and women who have fought to keep us safe abroad and at home and give our thanks to them. If you have a parent, uncle, aunt, or grandparent who served in the armed forces, talk to them and thank them for their service to our country.