Why Veterans Day?
Some of the funerals at funeral homes in Camillus, NY will be for military veterans. In the United States, we have days that honor the people who have put their lives on the line for this country. One of these days is Veterans Day.
Veterans (there is no apostrophe on either side of the “s”) Day honors all military veterans, whether they are alive or dead. It is America’s tribute to the men and women who fight to keep this country safe. We stop and we say, “Thank you for your service.”
Memorial Day is the other national holiday that honors military veterans. However, Memorial Day honors only military veterans who have died.
The history of Veterans Day is quite interesting. Why is it celebrated in November, for example? When did Veterans Day begin and why?
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. In 1914, the world began to erupt into a global war. Anger at colonialism, old European animosities and disputes, and emerging strength from marginalized and oppressed minority groups all came spewing out like lava from a volcano after Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, the Austrian-Hungarian heirs to the throne, were assassinated in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist on August 14, 2014.
Four years later, when World War I end, almost an entire generation of European young men had been killed or physically, emotionally, and mentally wounded or disabled. American didn’t enter the war until about a year before it ended, so its losses were not as numerous, but those who survived the conflict suffered the same physical, emotional, and mental wounds and disabilities as their European counterparts.
In 1918, the Allies and Germany negotiated an armistice that would end World War I in the 11th month, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day (November 11, 1918). This would be Armistice Day.
The American Congress officially recognized November 11, 1918 as the end of World War I in 1926. In 1938, it became an official national holiday to honor all the veterans of that war.
After World War II and the Korean War, veterans organizations began to lobby the United State Congress to expand Armistice Day to include all veterans of all wars. In 1954, Congress change the name of the commemoration from “Armistice Day” to “Veterans Day,” to make the national holiday one in which all veterans of any American wars would be honored, whether they were living or dead (Memorial Day honors only United States military veterans who have died).
When the American Congress enacted the Uniform Holiday Bill in 1968 to have some federal holidays, including Veterans Day, fall on Mondays, Veterans Day was changed to be commemorated on the fourth Monday of each October. The push for federal holidays to fall on Mondays was an effort to boost the national economy. Congressed hoped that the long weekend would be incentive for people to travel or indulge in other activities where they would spend money.
Many military veterans and Americans alike were very upset about the time change of Veterans Day because of its historical significance. It took seven years of protests and lobbying, but in 1975 then-President Gerald Ford signed Public Law 94-97, which would, beginning in 1978, change Veterans Day back to November 11.
For more information about Veterans Day at funeral homes in Camillus, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you. You can visit our funeral home at 2601 Milton Ave., Solvay, NY 13209, or you can call us today at (315) 468-2431.
