Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislature that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Many thanks from me to all those that have served in the armed forces of this country.
1 comment:
Yet, there's something to be said in favor of a day marking the end of a war, on the Feast of St Martin of Tours, a pacifist saint. Unfortunately, WWI wasn't the "war to end all wars" as people hoped at the time. Rather than being "The Great War," it ended up getting a number.
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