Veteran's Day is celebrated every year on November 11 to honor the soldier, living or dead, who have served or are serving their country during war or peacetime. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or a temporary ceasing of hostilities, was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany in the First World War, and thus was marked the date of the end of the Great War. Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this day as Armistice Day in November of 1918. The day consisted of parades and public gatherings, and a small pause at 11 a.m. from business activities to honor the soldiers.
On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution stating that the "recurring anniversary of November 11, 1918, should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations" and the president should issue an annual proclamation to celebrate Armistice Day. An act on May 13, 1938, made November 11 a legal Federal holiday.
After tremendous efforts from our military system in World War II and the Korean War, Congress amended the act from 1938 to be Veteran's, rather than Armistice, to honor all of our troops' efforts in wars, rather than just the ones that fought in the first World War. President Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
I think it's so awesome that we take one day a year to honor and celebrate our troops. Without a doubt, they deserve a million times more recognition than that.. but it's neat that our entire nation can come together to thank and praise what these courageous men and women do for us. We owe our lives to them, because they brought us our freedom. They fight for our rights, our safety, our lives. We are forever in their debt. Thank you, Veterans.
There are many monuments all over the nation celebrating and thanking veteran's for everything they've done for us. We honor those who gave their lives for our country in memorials such as the Vietnam Memorial. People celebrate today with parades, public speeches, and assemblies.
http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-veterans-day
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/veteransday.htm
http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/holidays/vetsday/vetshist.html
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