Veterans Day is a time to honor and thank all military personnel who have served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Established in the wake of World War I, the original intent of the holiday was to celebrate world peace.
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, World War I ended with the signing of the armistice agreement. One year later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation commemorating November 11 as Armistice Day. Each year Americans would celebrate the end of the “war to end all wars.” And in 1938 it was named a national holiday. Soon after, war broke out in Europe and World War II began.
Because World War I was not the war to end all wars, lawmakers believed that veterans from World War II and the Korean War also deserved a day of remembrance. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Much has changed in the 100 years since the end of World War I and the signing of the armistice agreement. But through the past century, the purpose of Veterans Day has remained the same – to say thank you to all the men and women who have served to protect and defend the United States of America.
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation works daily to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country by providing college scholarships and educational counseling to gold star children. We believe that a college education is the single most important gift we can give these children and one of the best ways to honor those who died defending our country. On Veterans Day and every other day, we thank those who have served in the United States military.