The Story Behind Veterans Day

What is the similarity of Poppy, Remembrance, Veterans and Armistice days? Each of these is celebrated on November 11 to recognize and honor war veterans in countries throughout the world. But are they related?

I recently became curious about the origins of Veterans Day after discovering a reference to Armistice Day in my mother’s diary. She mentioned the November 11 holiday in two separate 1941 and 42 entries. In the fall of 1942, my dad was in basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and she wanted to tell him about her Armistice Day activities. When I read her comments, I did not understand their significance.

Not being a war historian, I wasn’t clear about the connection between Armistice and Veterans Day either. But I soon learned that the name and the celebration date had been in flux for quite a while both in the US and throughout the Europe. Each country eventually created its own unique traditions to honor veterans but the US faced several challenges in their efforts to permanently establish the current Veterans Day.

In fact, the United States tweaked this holiday four times over a sixty-year period. Did you know that? That was news to me as well. Beginning in 1919, November 11, was designated Armistice Day. An Armistice, the formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting, had been signed the year before on November 11, 1918, at 11am by the Allies and Germany signifying an end to World War I. This was an important day of remembrance for all the soldiers who had fought in this war, and in 1926, Calvin Coolidge officially established Armistice Day as a national holiday.

But Congress was not satisfied to leave this holiday alone and many of the Congressional modifications were not welcomed by the public. In 1954, Public Law 83-380 gave the November holiday a new name, Veteran’s Day. This new title expanded the coverage to include veterans not just from the World War I but from World War II, the Korean conflict and future campaigns. That decision was widely accepted; however, in 1968 Congress decided to include Veterans Day under the Monday Holiday Law. This changed the fifty-two year old Veterans Day celebration from November 11 to the fourth Monday of October. It also separated the Veterans Day observation from the anniversary signing of the World War I Armistice in Europe. This was not a popular move by any means, and there was so much push back that states continued celebrating November 11 instead of the last Monday in October. This practice persisted until 1975 when Public Law 94-97 was passed. Finally, the national Veterans Day returned to November 11, and everyone breathed a patriotic sigh of relief. Today Veteran’s Day is a well-established tradition where veterans are gratefully recognized and honored in events throughout the US.

But how do the other Allied countries celebrate Veterans Day? I discovered a wide range of practices but in France and Belgium, the holiday is still officially called Armistice Day and is observed on November 11. Poland likewise celebrates then they call it, Poland National Independence Day. Armistice Day in Italy comes on November 4 to recognize the end of World War I and the day of the Armistice of Villa Giusti. The British Commonwealth of Nations initially observed their holiday on November 11 and also called it Armistice Day. However, it eventually became known as Remembrance Day to represent a broader purpose. Instead of a day to celebrate the end of the war, it became a time to celebrate peace and to remember all who had died in the line of duty.

The red poppy has become one of the most poignant symbols of Remembrance Day. Wearing a poppy on your lapel began shortly after Armistice Day and was inspired by a poem written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Composed on the battlefield on May 3, 1915, McCrae quickly penned it after his close friend and former student was killed by a German shell. Then and now the bright red color of the poppies are a vivid reminder of the blood spilled in war.

As you celebrate Veterans Day this year, remember those brave men and women who fought for our peace and freedom throughout the world. Take the opportunity to greet them and thank them for their service. Stop, pause and reflect on the significance of this day. If you happen to be in the Arizona, please join me at 10am for the annual ceremony at the Anthem Veterans Memorial and observe the solar eclipse onto the Great Seal at 11am. To learn more about the Memorial and events go to http://www.onlineatanthem.com/visitors/veterans_memorial/index.php

A special thanks again to all our veterans for your sacrifices and service.