Veterans Day is intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military — living and dead — whether in wartime or peace.
In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who serve have sacrificed and done their duty.
While Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day, the two observances serve different purposes and have different histories. Memorial Day, which has its roots in the post-Civil War effort to “memorialize” all those who died in that war, has become a modern holiday to remember those from all wars and conflicts who gave their lives in service to the country.
To ensure the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000 the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law The National Moment of Remembrance Act to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for two minutes of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
Veterans Day, however, was first known as Armistice Day as a celebration of the resolution of World War I, a peace recognized historically on the date and time of that event, Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m., and salutes surviving service members as well as those who have passed away since their service.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace.
He issued a presidential order directing the head of the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs) to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day.
In 1968, in keeping with the Monday Holiday Bill, Congress briefly moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, but it became quickly apparent that the American public held fast to the historical significance of the First World War armistice on Nov. 11, and in 1978, Veterans Day was returned permanently to its traditional date.
Hence, the Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, a color guard made up of members from each branch of the military renders honors to America’s deceased veterans during a tradition-rich ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The president or his representative places a wreath at the tomb and a bugler sounds taps. The balance of the ceremony, including a parade of flags by veterans service organizations, takes place inside the memorial amphitheater, adjacent to the tomb.
On Oct. 7, 2016, President Barack Obama signed the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act. The law requires that the president issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe a two-minute national moment of silence on Veterans Day at 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time, 2:11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 1:11 p.m. Central Standard Time, 12:11 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, 11:11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, 10:11 a.m. Alaska Standard Time, and 9:11 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time.
