Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an official United States holiday that remembers people who have served in armed service, also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11 and coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day and Rememberance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.


U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. 
In proclaiming this memorial day he said

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."



In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. Weeks led a delegation to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who supported the idea of National Veterans Day. Weeks led the first national celebration in 1947 in Alabama and annually until his death in 1985. President Reagan honored Weeks at the White House with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 and he was consedered the "Father of Veterans Day."

  Because it's a federal holiday,some American workers and 

many students have Veterans Day off from work or school.