American Holidays > Veterans Day Introduction I Martin Luther King Day I Washington's Birthday (President's Day) I Memorial Day I Independence Day I Labor Day I Columbus Day I Thanksgiving I Christmas Other : Ethnic & Religious Observances I Other Celebrations I Halloween

Background · American Legion · Arlington National Cemetary · Celebrate! Holidays in the USA: Veterans Day   · Gun Salutes · NYT > Articles about Veterans Day · The Origins of Veterans Day · Outline of American History · Portrait of America: National Celebrations · The Story of Taps · Today in History: Veterans Day · U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans · U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs   · Veterans Day · Veterans Day · Veterans Day   · Veterans Day Homepage · Veterans Day Resources · White House > Issues > Veterans Statistics · Facts for Features: Veterans Day 2009  · Veteran Data and Information   Photo courtesy of the Defense Visual Information Center Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to honor Americans who had served in World War I. It falls on November 11, the day when that war ended in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought. Veterans' organizations hold parades or other special ceremonies, and the president customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. See also: About the USA > U.S. History > War, Prosperity and the Big Crash (1900s to 1929)

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Veterans Day Honor Those Who Have Served in U.S. Military Veterans Day originated in the Armistice Day holiday commemorating the November 11, 1918, armistice at 11 a.m. (hence "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month"), which suspended active hostilities and effectively ended the First World War. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919, the first Armistice Day with the following words: "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 …." (America.gov, November 10, 2009) Veterans’ Wartime Memories Find Home in Library of Congress Veterans History Project preserves accounts for future generations and scholars (America.gov, June 27, 20008)

Exhibits, Memorials - Digital Images · American Battle Monuments Commission · Arlington National Cemetery Official Web Site · From the Home Front and the Front Lines · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page · The Virtual Wall   Multimedia · Veterans History Project Link Lists · Google > Holidays> Veterans Day · Veterans Day · Yahoo! Holidays and Observances: Veterans Day

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