Veterans Day: How to say thank you
November 9, 2007
November 11th is Veterans Day, a day to honor the sacrifice and service of all who have served in the United States military.
At one time, Veterans Day was Armistice Day. On November 11, 1918 both sides of World War I agreed to a cease fire known as armistice. In November 1919 President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed November 11th Armistice Day — a day dedicated to the cause of world peace.
In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day. After World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor all men and women who have served in the the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, during peacetime and war.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill changed the traditional day of observing Veterans Day on November 11th to the day closest to a weekend, thereby insuring the national holiday would fall on a three-day weekend. This change from November 11th as the absolute day to observe Veterans Day to a movable holiday caused confusion. Some states chose not to follow the change and kept November 11th as Veterans Day, regardless of what day of the week November 11th fell. Due to the historic significance of November 11th, President Gerald R. Ford returned the observance of Veterans Day to November 11th.
According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, there has been some confusion regarding the two annual holidays that honor those who serve, and have served in the military. Veterans Day honors living veterans for their sacrifice and service in protecting the freedoms and principles on which this country was founded. Memorial Day honors and remembers those servicemen and servicewomen who have given their lives in the service of their country.
On Veterans Day, and every other day of the year, there are different ways to say thank you to veterans. The United States Department of Veteran Affairs Veterans Day webpage features information on Take a Veteran to School Day at the History Channel. Or as Jennifer Love Hewitt has done, visit wounded soldiers who have just returned from war. In addition, get involved in efforts to help our nation’s homeless veterans.
The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that there might be as many as 200,000 veterans who are homeless on any given night. The VA estimates that 400,000 veterans experience homelessness each year.
“Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country.”
The National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Urban Institute, 1999), estimates that 23 percent of all homeless people in this country are veterans. Homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America.
To learn more, begin at the United States Department of Veteran Affair Veterans Day webpage, the United States Department of Veteran Affair Homeless Veterans webpage and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans website.
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