Thank You, Veterans
Thanksgiving gets a lot of hype in November, and for good reason. It’s a uniquely American Holiday that’s become an indelible part of our culture. Great as it is, Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday in the month. November the 11th is Veterans Day. For many of us it’s an afterthought, a chance for a three-day weekend, an opportunity to get ahead of the Christmas shopping rush by attending a cool Veterans Day sale. However, without the sacrifice of our veterans there might not even be a Turkey Day to celebrate, or a Christmas list to fill.
Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day, the day World War I officially came to an end. Congress passed a resolution calling for a national day of observance in 1926, and Veterans Day become a national holiday starting in 1938. America’s veterans have always stood ready to defend the cause of freedom both at home and abroad. Sure the sales are nice, but Veterans Day is really a time to say thank you to the men and women who have done so much to help our country.
Here are a few more interesting facts about Veterans Day:
There are no apostrophes needed. One of the more common spelling errors people make is to write it as Veteran’s Day. It’s actually Veterans (plural) Day. It’s a day honoring shared sacrifice, so it doesn’t belong to any veteran or group of veterans. It belongs to all veterans.
Veterans Day isn’t the same as Memorial Day. Sure, they’re both military-related holidays, but there are important differences. Memorial Day is for commemorating those who gave their lives defending freedom, and while Veterans Day does honor those who have served our country both living and dead, its primary purpose is to thank living veterans.
It wasn’t always on the 11th. The reason we observe for Veterans Day isn’t the only thing people get confused about. For a while the date was changed so it would always fall on a Monday. Why? Well, remember those sales. When the change was made in 1968 it was hoped that having a three-day weekend would help generate spending to boost the economy. In 1975, the date was changed back, so Veterans Day would once again fall on the 11th of November.
Veterans Day isn’t just an American holiday. Many other nations fought in World War I as well, and several of those nations, including Great Britain, Canada and Australia, observe their own version of the holiday. In those countries, the day is known as Remembrance Day.
With these bits of trivia in mind, how do you go about honoring Veterans Day? There are several things you can do to express your appreciation. You can help veterans groups like Disabled American Veterans through a cash donation or you can donate your time and expertise. If you’re a business owner or hiring manager, why not consider adding a veteran to the payroll? The simplest way of all is just to say “Thank You.”