The History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. Please join Liquid Video Technologies in giving thanks to the brave men and woman, past and present for their service to our country.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally, on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday — Saturday or Sunday — the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov. 11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as “National Veterans Awareness Week.” The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Article Provided by: Military.com

Some Local Events Honoring Veteran’s

• GHS Veterans Day Ceremony

  11 a.m. Friday, Greenville Memorial Hospital. 864-797-7549

  The Greenville Health System will recognize employees who have served in the military, and the ceremony also will feature a display of military vehicles and a 21-gun salute.

• General Philip Breedlove speech

  11 a.m. Thursday, Founder’s Memorial Amphitorium at Bob Jones University. www.blogs.bju.edu

  Four-star Air Force General Philip Breedlove has served as Commander, U.S. European Command, as well as 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations.

• Veterans Tribute Day

  Free, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Upcountry History Museum, Greenville. www.upcountryhistory.org

  The museum’s annual event kicks off with an opening ceremony featuring the Young Marines Color Guard, and Vietnam vet Tim Henry will give the keynote address at noon. A “Reflections of War” panel discussion begins at 1:30 p.m., and Chuck Doan, author of “Sand in Their Eyes: One Family’s Escape From Post-War Vietnam,” will hold a book-signing from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

  The day will also feature a screening of the 1932 Gary Cooper film “A Farewell to Arms,” children’s activities, and displays of military uniforms and weapons from World War II through the Gulf War.

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