VETERANS DAY AT A GLANCE:
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Facts About Veterans Day: A celebration of heroes
Every November 11th Americans honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, showing them our appreciation for their brave service. Since 1926, Veterans Day has been celebrated in many ways. Learning about Veterans Day is a great way to celebrate our country’s heroes.
- Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, was intended to honor the veterans of World War I. The celebration of Armistice Day took place annually on November 11th, commemorating the end of The Great War in 1918, at 11:00 A.M., on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. An armistice is a stopping of warfare by mutual agreement, as a truce preliminary to the signing of a peace treaty.
- The United States Congress enacted Armistice Day on June 4, 1926. Armistice Day was made a national holiday on May 13, 1938, and was to be celebrated on November 11th each year.
- In 1954, ‘Armistice Day’ was changed to ‘Veterans Day’ because Americans found it more fitting to honor all of America’s veterans, not just those veterans of World War I.
- On June 28, 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill was implemented to insure that Veterans Day and other national holidays would be celebrated on a Monday each year. Under this new law, Veterans Day would have a different date each year.
- Since many Americans continued to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th despite the 1968 law, in September 1975 a new law returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original November 11th date.
- Celebrating Veterans Day on November 11th each year preserves the significance of the end of World War I and helps to focus our attention on the day’s purpose. On Veterans Day we celebrate America’s heroes, their patriotism, our patriotism, and the great value of sacrifice for the common good. Veterans Day is a celebration of heroes, victory, and peace.
- Veterans Day is often celebrated with the display of American flags, military parades, and visits to military graves or war memorials.
Show your patriotism and your appreciation of our veterans by observing Veterans Day. Display an American flag, educate yourself about the wars that veterans fought, or write a letter of appreciation to a military veteran in your community!
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EDUCATION PROJECTS:
Student Travel – WWII Educational Tours
High school and college students, learn the leadership principles that helped win WWII on a trip to France or during a weeklong residential program in New Orleans. College credit is available, and space is limited.
See You Next Year! HS Yearbooks from WWII
Collected from across the United States, the words and pictures of these yearbooks present a new opportunity to experience the many challenges, setbacks and triumphs of the war through the eyes of America’s youth.
The Victory Gardens of WWII
Visit the Classroom Victory Garden Project website to learn about food production during WWII, find lesson plans and activities for elementary students, get tips for starting your own garden and try out simple Victory Garden recipes!
The Science and Technology of WWII
Visit our new interactive website to learn about wartime technical and scientific advances that forever changed our world. Incorporates STEM principles to use in the classroom.
Kids Corner: Fun and Games!
Make your own propaganda posters, test your memory, solve puzzles and more! Learn about World War II and have fun at the same time.
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