According to the History Channel, the roots of this holiday began with "The War to End All Wars"
" On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars." {1}
Understandably, Americans all too frequently confused the purpose of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. While Memorial Day seeks to honor soldiers that died in battle or as a consequence of their battle wounds, Veterans Day was established to celebrate the service of all American Veterans. Perhaps this confusion stems from the original Armistice Day commemoration or the fact that "at exactly 11 a.m., each November 11th, a color guard, made up of members from each of the military branches, renders honors to America's war dead during a heart-moving ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery." {2}
Whatever you are doing this Monday, November 11, 2013, please don't forget to say 'thank you' to our American soldier, young and old, at home or abroad, in friendly posts or dangerous spots across the globe; they all serve to keep us safe and free. Should that thank you should come at 11:00am, so much the better. Happy Veterans Day, America and God Bless Our Veterans.
{1}http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-veterans-day
{2}http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/veteransday.htm
