Dear Editor:
Veterans Day, a federal holiday that falls on November 11th, is designated as a day to honor the more than 21 million men and women who have served in the U.S. military.
It was first observed on November 11, 1919, as Armistice day in honor of the first anniversary of the end of World War 1, which officially ended on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918.In 1926, Congress called for an annual observance of the anniversary and by 1938 it was an official federal holiday. A few decades later, in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, as it known today.
Thanks to the “Uniform Holiday Act of 1968”, it was moved from it’s November 11th date to a less-defined “Forth Monday in October” so workers could enjoy a long weekend. However, the move didn’t last long. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned the solemn day back to its original November 11 to honor the global historical significance of the day.
While it is important to thank those who have served or are serving on a regular basis, on Veterans Day, it’s especially important to to take an extra moment to show military members gratitude for their sacrifice.
There are approximately 18 million Veterans in the U.S., and I am one of about 350,000 in our state of Colorado
Rick Walker
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