Facts About Veterans Day
Learn some fun facts about Veterans Day, read a few Veterans Day quotes and learn a little Veterans Day history here! If you are a veteran, or have a loved one who is or was a veteran, please share your photos and stories with us (use the form at bottom of this page).
Veterans Day is a federal holiday that honors the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. This holiday is sometimes called Remembrance Day or Armistice Day.
World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, but the fighting actually ended 7 months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on November 11th, 1918. Veterans Day is now celebrated on November 11th every year.
- The Armistice was signed during the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month - November 11, 1918
- The original idea for the holiday was for a day to be observed with parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
- On June 4th, 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual national observance.
- On May 13th, 1938, Veterans Day became a national holiday.
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation on November 8th, 1954 to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor veterans of all American wars.
- George Patton, the famous World War II American military officer, was born on November 11th, in 1885. Although he was born before Veterans Day was established, it is interesting that this famous war hero shares his birthday with the day that now honors living veterans.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however,the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot." - Mark Twain
""All men are timid on entering any fight. Whether it is the first or the last fight, all of us are timid. Cowards are those who let their timidity get the better of their manhood."" - General George Patton Jr
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." - General George Patton Jr
"In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is an eyelash." - General Douglas MacArthur
"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog" - General Dwight D. Eisenhower
"A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living." - John F. Kennedy
"In war there is no substitute for victory." - General Douglas MacArthur
"Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." - General George Patton Jr
"The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable." - General Ulysses S. Grant
"The Americans will always do the right thing... After they've exhausted all the alternatives." - Winston Churchill
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower
"We will not tire, We will not falter, We will not fail." - George W. Bush
"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." - General Douglas MacArthur
"The mothers and fathers of America will give you their sons and daughters...with the confidence in you that you will not needlessly waste their lives. And you dare not. That's the burden the mantle of leadership places upon you. You could be the person who gives the orders that will bring about the deaths of thousands and thousands of young men and women. It is an awesome responsibility. You cannot fail. You dare not fail..." - General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy
"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower
"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." - Dick Cheney
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. " - General George Patton Jr
"You don't lead by hitting people over the head-that's assault, not leadership." - General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Veterans Day Poems and Patriotic Poetry available on our Patriotic Poems page
The National Veterans Day Ceremony take place at 11:00 am on November 11th, every year. For a list of regional ceremonies and more facts about Veterans Day, you can visit the Veterans Day National Committee website. It is very likely that your community will also be having a Veterans Day ceremony, so check your local newspapers if you want to attend.
I hope that you've enjoyed these facts about Veterans day - don't forget to share your stories and photographs with us!
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A Veteran's Day Poem
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We salute each and every one of you,
On this very special day,
Because you served your country with so much pride,
In a very special way.
So on this ...
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