Remembering Our Veterans

Veterans Day History & Remembering our Veterans
Posted by Carisa Gaul on November 8th, 2010

When is Veterans Day? Veterans Day is observed on November 11 regardless what day of the week it falls on. It’s a day to celebrate and honor America’s military veterans for their patriotism, love of our country, and willingness to serve / sacrifice for the common good. Not to be confused with Memorial Day which is celebrated the fourth Monday every May and honors American servicemembers who died or suffer from injuries from being in service.



November 11 is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world. It’s the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice which ended World War I or the Great War. World War I cessation of hostilities formally ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month 1918 with Allied nations and Germany signing the Armistice.
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Veteran’s Day a holiday on November 11, 1919.

Woodrow Wilson said: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

In 1926 the United States Congress requested President Calvin Coolidge to issue another proclamation to observe each year on November 11th a legal federal holiday. The proclamation for Veterans Day was approved May 1938 to honor all those who participated in the War: “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”

In June 1954 congress amended the proclamation to replace “Armistice” with “Veterans” and since it’s been known as Veterans Day.



Red poppies are given out by uniformed war veterans on Veterans day. There are veterans day parades all over the country with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.

Applebee’s will be celebrating Veterans Day by serving more than 1 million free meals to active-duty personnel from 11 a.m. until midnight on Veterans’ Day.
The menu will include:
7-ounce House Sirloin, Bacon Cheeseburger, Three Cheese Chicken Penne, Chicken Tenders Platter, Oriental Chicken Salad, Fiesta Lime Chicken and Double Crunch Shrimp.

To be eligible for your free meal you must be in uniform or provide proof of military service such as:

- An active-duty or retiree ID card.

- A current leave and earnings statement.

- A DD214 discharge certificate.

- A photo in uniform.

- A veterans organization card, such as an American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars card.