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This year marks many different anniversaries; the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War, the 30th anniversary of both the end of the Panama Invasion and the beginning of Desert Shield. Thus, 2020 brings a theme for Veterans Day this year, “Vision: Veterans in Focus”.
On Veterans Day, we honor all who served, but especially we focus on the needs of the next generation of Veterans. Our Veterans contribute to American society in many different ways. These men and women have protected - during their service, and continue to protect - the values and liberties that this nation was built on. They strengthen our communities and give us an example to follow. Their service goes beyond their uniform.
© GettyImages1. Veterans Day Observed At Arlington National Cemetery - The Honor of Veterans Day
Even though it is usually spelled “Veteran’s day”, Veterans Day is spelled WITHOUT the apostrophe. Silly you may think. But this actually has some importance. This is because, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans day is not a day that belongs to veterans, but rather a day that is for HONORING all veterans.
© GettyImages2. Celebrated on November 11: New York City Celebrates Veterans Day With Annual Parade
Between 1971 and 1977 Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. This was part of a few other holidays on Mondays, used to encourage 3 day weekends, like Columbus Day, Washington’s birthday and Memorial Day. But many states did not agree with having Veterans day part of these Monday holidays due to its patriotic and historic significance. On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law which returned veterans day to being celebrated and honored on November 11. Regardless of which day of the week it falls, Veterans Day is honored and observed annually.
© GettyImages3. Arlington National Cemetery - From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
“Armistice Day” became “Veterans Day” on June 1, 1954. On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, on the 11th month, it became known as Armistice Day. Armistice Day was in recognition of the armistice agreement that ended WWI, the war to end all wars…but it did not exactly achieve that, seeing as how WW2 came along, and the Korean War. Veterans organizations began urging Congress to change armistice day to Veterans day in order to be more inclusive and honor all US veterans.
© GettyImages4. What’s the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Both of them honor the men and women that have served in the military, but Memorial Day honors Americas war dead, and Veterans Day honors ALL American veterans, living and dead.
© GettyImages5. Numbers - more than you think
The US Census Bureau estimates MORE than 21 million veterans living in the US. More than 16 million of them served in times of war, while 5.5 million of them served in peace time only. About 9 million of these veterans are over the age of 65 and about 1.6 million veterans are women.
© GettyImages
