Celebrating Veterans Day
Veterans Day is this Sunday, and many people are going to participate in fun, patriotic activities to honor our veterans and celebrate! There are, however, still many people who don’t know why we celebrate Veterans Day and who choose to not participate in any activities. Our veterans deserve our thanks, and Veterans Day is a special holiday dedicated to exactly that purpose.Originally, Veterans Day was called “Armistice Day” and first started on November 11th, 1918. On this day, at exactly 11am, the United States signed a peace armistice with Germany that signified the end of the first World War. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared the day a holiday. In 1938, Congress officially approved the day as a federal holiday, and in 1954 they changed the name to “Veterans Day” so that it would honor veterans of WWII as well as the Korean War, and not just those men and women from WWI. Today, Veterans Day honors all men and women who have ever served in the US Armed Forces. Many people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day, but they are quite different. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died while serving our country, and Veterans Day is a day of peace and celebration that is meant to honor everybody who has served, living and dead.
The Best Ways to Celebrate
There are so many fun things that you can do on Veterans Day to celebrate the veterans who have protected our freedom. Here are a few ideas that are cheap, fun, and can be done with your family and friends!
- Go to a Parade – Many cities host parades that honor the veterans that live in your community. These parades are often free and can be a fun way to spend some time with family and friends and get to know the people in your area who have served.
- Have a Moment of Silence – A moment of silence is a traditional way to show thanks and gratitude to those that you cannot thank personally. Teaching your kids what a moment of silence is and what it means is a good way to help them understand the importance of respect of others. Your kids will not likely be able to be silent for long and will probably end up giggling but it shows and teaches respect nonetheless.
- Patriotic Crafts – There are so many simple patriotic crafts and treats that you can make with your kids. Paper flags, banners, and treats are all fun and easy to make. Red, white, and blue rice crispys are a personal favorite!
Make sure you take some time this Veterans Day to thank a veteran or give thanks in your heart for the freedom that we enjoy. Keep in mind that because the holiday is on a Sunday this year, it will be observed on Monday, November 12th.
Courtney writes about VA news for MilitaryVALoan.com, a resource for veterans to save money on their home loans and learn about current VA streamline refinance info.
I thank Courtney for her guest post, her education in the history of what this day means. I will add in to please stop and thank a Veteran for his/her sacrifices that s/he has given.
