Veterans Day: A History Of Military Honor

The history of Veterans Day is clearly explained in this publication. Veterans Day is an annual Federal Holiday, set aside to honor United States military veterans. Veterans Day is an annual Federal Holiday that is celebrated in America every year on November 11, for the sole purpose of honoring and celebrating United States military veterans who are alive, and also United States military veterans who have died.

Veterans Day is a day when Americans can show their patriotic love for America in the simple gesture of displaying American flags on their front lawns for all people to see. How is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day? According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, many Americans are confused about the meaning of these two national holidays. Also, there are Americans who do not know the reason why Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th every year. In other words, many Americans are not familiar with the history of Veterans Day.

Here is a little bit of history about Veterans Day, in the hopes that the reasons for celebrating these two national United States annual holidays, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day, will be clearly understood:

Veterans Day was previously known as Armistice Day. The legal holiday known as Armistice Day was created to celebrate the end of World War I.  World War I ended on November 11, 1918. The Act of 1938 was passed on November 11, 1938. Armistice Day was "'dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" 1 Armistice Day paid tribute to veterans of World War I.

After the end of World War II and the Korean War, various Veterans organizations asked the 83rd U.S. Congress to amend the Act of 1938, by substituting the word "Veterans" for the word "Armistice." This legislation was approved on June 1, 1954. The original date of Armistice Day, November 11, was kept, and, to this day, Veterans Day, which is an annual holiday celebrated every year on November 11, is the day Americans take the time to remember and honor all American Veterans who served in any war.

Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee:

The White House Office

October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER  1

What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

Memorial Day remembers and honors military members who have died in service to America, or died due to war injuries. Although military members who have died in service to America are also honored on Veterans Day, the main purpose of Veterans Day is to honor and thank military veterans who are still living. Veterans Day also honors all military veterans who served America in the military, whether in times of war or in times of peace.

Veterans Day is not just an annual Federal Holiday in which some people receive a day off from their jobs. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, has a purpose. Please remember to take a few moments during the day to remember those brave military veterans who willingly sacrifice their lives in order to protect Americans and America. Veterans Day is a day to wave your American flags and show your patriotism.

1 The History of Veterans Day

*For more information about the history of Veterans Day, click The History of Veterans Day.

Memorial Day Prayer For American Soldiers and Heroes

I wrote this prayer for American soldiers, heroes and everyone who seeks God's face. I ask God to bless all of you.




If you have been the target of physical, intellectual, or emotional intolerance, this prayer is also for you.

King James Bible
Psalm 24:6: "This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." 1


King James Bible
Psalm 27:8: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." 2
Memorial Day Prayer For American Soldiers and Heroes




May you always be blessed by the one, true God.

May He always lift you up out of depression and hopelessness.

May you always be directed and guided by Him whenever you need to make decisions about anything important in your life.

May you learn to be tolerant toward those that believe differently than you do.

May you learn to be tolerant toward those of other ethnic and religious backgrounds.

May you understand that God's tolerance far surpasses your imperfect interpretation.

May you come to an understanding that even those who vehemently protest belief in God may, in fact, be closer to Him than you realize. Sometimes protest is an outward form of an inner spiritual struggle.

May you continue to walk on a good and righteous path, and may no harm or evil ever befall you.

May you never give your fear the power to destroy your dreams.

Amen.


Related Links


1 http://bible.cc/psalms/24-6.htm

2 http://bible.cc/psalms/27-8.htm



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Memorial Day In May Of 1868 and General John A. Logan

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in the service of the United States of America.

"General John A. LoganLibrary of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states."


Thanks to http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html for the above information and quotation. The quote is a brief excerpt. Click this link to read the entire history of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Prayer For Soldiers and Those Who Mourn

Here is an excerpt from a Memorial Day Prayer:

"God, lift the hearts of those for whom this holiday is not just diversion,but painful memory and continued deprivation.Bless those whose dear ones have died needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]in accident or misadventure.We remember with compassion those who have died serving their countries in the futility of combat." 1

1 http://www.usmemorialday.org/prayer.html - Click this link to read the entire prayer.