Fun facts about Veterans Day

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Veterans Day
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Did you know? The ritual of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier involves exactly 21 steps, matching the 21-gun salute.

Fact 1 of 28

28 facts about Veterans Day

  1. 1
    At 11:00 a.m. on November 11th, many people participate in two minutes of silence to honor the exact moment the armistice took effect in 1918.
  2. 2
    The holiday was officially moved to October for a few years in the 1970s, but the date change was so unpopular that it was eventually switched back to November 11th.
  3. 3
    The word armistice comes from Latin words meaning to stand still and arms, which is a poetic way of saying it is time to stop fighting.
  4. 4
    Many people think Veterans Day and Memorial Day are the same, but Memorial Day is specifically to honor those who died in service, while Veterans Day honors all who served.
  5. 5
    The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since July 2, 1937, regardless of weather conditions.
  6. 6
    Veterans Day is a holiday that honors everyone who served in the United States military, not just those who fought in wars.
  7. 7
    Congress originally passed a resolution in 1926 requesting that the president issue an annual proclamation calling for the day to be observed with appropriate ceremonies.
  8. 8
    The ritual of the Changing of the Guard involves exactly 21 steps, representing the highest symbolic military honor, the 21-gun salute.
  9. 9
    The word Armistice is a combination of Latin words meaning to stand still and arms, essentially meaning to stop fighting.
  10. 10
    Some people think that Veterans Day is only for soldiers who fought in combat, but it is actually meant to honor anyone who served in the military during war or peace.
  11. 11
    The United States is the only country that officially spells it Veterans Day, while almost every other Commonwealth nation uses the name Remembrance Day.
  12. 12
    President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919, describing the day as filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died.
  13. 13
    The bugle call Taps is traditionally played at Veterans Day ceremonies to signal the end of the day and the final rest of a soldier.
  14. 14
    The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is made of seven pieces of Yule marble, which is the same stone used for the Lincoln Memorial.
  15. 15
    In some parts of the world, people observe two minutes of silence at 11:00 AM on November 11th to reflect on the sacrifices of those who served.
  16. 16
    The choice of the poppy as a symbol for the day was inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, which describes the flowers growing over soldier graves.
  17. 17
    The first national celebration of Armistice Day in 1919 included parades and a brief pause in business activities at 11:00 AM.
  18. 18
    If November 11th falls on a Sunday, the federal holiday is observed on the following Monday, meaning most government offices close down to celebrate.
  19. 19
    Because the armistice was signed in a railroad carriage in the forest of Compiègne, the train car became a temporary national monument in France for many years.
  20. 20
    A common mistake is to call the holiday Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day, but the official federal name does not use an apostrophe.
  21. 21
    The U.S. government initially declared the anniversary of the end of World War I as a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace.
  22. 22
    Veterans Day is spelled without an apostrophe because it is not a day that belongs to veterans, but a day for honoring veterans.
  23. 23
    Many people incorrectly believe that Veterans Day is the same as Memorial Day, but Memorial Day honors those who died in service, while Veterans Day honors all who served.
  24. 24
    Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th because the armistice ending World War I went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
  25. 25
    Arlington National Cemetery contains a memorial to the Unknown Soldier that is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or snowstorms.
  26. 26
    For a brief period between 1971 and 1977, the date of Veterans Day was officially moved to the fourth Monday in October due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, but it was moved back to November 11th because of the strong historical significance of the original date.
  27. 27
    The holiday was originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, but it was renamed to Veterans Day in 1954 so it could honor soldiers from all wars, not just the one that ended on that date.
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