Veterans Day

I was in fourth grade at East 10, a one-room grade school in Cheyenne County, Kansas, the first year that Veterans Day was observed in 1954. I remember my teacher telling us about changing the name of "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day" because they wanted to honor ALL Veterans.

I remember my mother telling me about my uncle Lloyd Crabtree serving during World War II in Africa and Italy. She taught us to appreciate what every soldier does for us, the American citizens, to keep our country free. In those days, everyone was so very aware of the sacrifice our men were making because every home had been personally affected in some way by the two world wars. The memory of the losses and the affects of the wars were still so obvious in the men who came home and those who did not.

Like other National Holidays, Veterans Day was changed to the first MONDAY of November, but people continued observing it on November 11, so it was changed back to its traditional day in 1978.

I can remember wearing poppies on Veterans Day and there was usually a memorial service conducted by veterans. (See In Flanders Fields)

Veterans Day is not to honor war, but to honor the warrior who serves their country anyplace in the world and in any conflict.

Veterans Day was born (First known as Armistice Day):

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an armistice was signed. The "war to end all wars" was over.

Some links to learn about the history of Veterans Day:

The History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day (Formerly Armistice Day)
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
United States Department of Veterans Affairs