Veterans Day is a federal holiday and a time to both celebrate and honor those brave individuals who have served this country as members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Whether in times of war or peace, their commitment to defending our freedoms – with their lives if need be – have been a bulwark to the experiment called the United States of America. Veterans are special people from all walks of life, colors, creeds, and ethnic heritages. But they all share a demonstrated love of this country.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are around 19 million U.S. veterans, representing approximately 10% of the total adult population in America. Of those, 1.7 million members of the veteran population reside in California, making The Golden State home to the most veterans in the Country.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, which was considered the anniversary of World War One’s end. it was President Woodrow Wilson who proclaimed November 11, 1919, as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in honor of the Allied Powers signing a ceasefire agreement with Germany at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, bringing the war to a close.
Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. On October 8, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to commemorate veterans of all wars.
Additional information on the history of Veterans Day HERE
Veterans Day is celebrated in a variety of ways – such as with local parades, educational events at libraries, schools, and museums, marathon races, and live military demonstrations. Many businesses also offer special veteran discounts and sometimes restaurants will offer free dining deals to show their gratitude.
We thank all the veterans, past and present, for their service and sacrifice for our country and protecting our freedom
