Happy Veterans Day 2009
To all of our veterans, past, and present. you
have our thanks for paying the price of freedom.
We know that Freedom Is Not Free.
Photo Credit to EMCS(SS) Randy Herrick

Veterans Day originally began in England and France. On November 11, 1920, to commemorate the ending of World War I (11am on November 11, 1918 or the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), England and France each held ceremonies where they buried an unknown soldier of the war in a high place of honor, Westminster Abbey in England and the Arc de Triomphe in France. This day became known as Armistice Day, “armistice” meaning “truce.”
The United States soon followed the examples of England and France. An unknown American World War I soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. It wasn’t until 1928, though, that November 11 was officially known as Armistice Day in the United States. Even then, it still wasn’t a holiday. A congressional action twelve years later in 1938 then made Armistice Day an official national holiday.
In only a few years, the United States would enter World War II. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part in this war. Armistice Day did not pay tribute to these people, so President Eisenhower changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all Americans who had served in all wars.
The memorial amphitheater that was built around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues to be the focal point for official ceremonies for Veterans Day. A combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb at 11 a.m. on November 11 every year. A presidential wreath is also laid out as the nation’s tribute to its war dead, and a bugler plays “Taps.”




