Veterans Day, Armistice Day, Remembrance Day

Today is Veterans Day in the USA.  This is the 2015 poster, which can be downloaded from the VA.gov site.

Those of us who live in the U.S. celebrate Veterans Day every year on November 11 to honor those who have served in the armed forces and fought to protect our way of life.   For several years, I have created a post on this day honoring veterans both living and dead in service to our country.  To see my post from 2010, please go here.  For 2011, please go here.  I apparently didn't create a post for 2012, but you can see 2013's post here.  And finally, last year's post (2014) is here.   Remember, too, that all my links open in new windows.

The significance of why we celebrate on November 11 is the Allied nations and Germany signed an armistice (a cease-fire agreement) during World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month on November 11, 1918 which officially ended the war.

On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson decided November 11 would be known as Armistice Day in the U.S..  The name was changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954 to honor veterans of all wars.  Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls on.  It is a Federal and State holiday in the U.S..

Clearly, the U.S. is not the only country to celebrate this day in history.  After all, it was the biggest conflict ever fought up to that time.  The United Kingdom (U.K.) has some of the most elaborate celebrations to honor those who have fought for their country.  According to the web site British Legion, from late October up to Armistice Day on November 11, the Royal British Legion distributes 40 million poppies that people wear to commemorate those who have served in the armed forces. The celebrations are split into two days.  The first is Remembrance Day, which takes place on the second Sunday of November each year. It is a day to recognize those who have lost their lives protecting the U.K..  It's basically the U.K. version of our (the U.S.) Memorial Day.  This year Remembrance Day fell on November 8.  The U.K. also celebrates Armistice Day on Nov. 11 with  two minutes of silence observed at the 11th hour throughout the country.  Before I started participating in Art Every Day Month, I always posted at 11 am each November 11.

Additionally, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, as it is called in some places, is observed throughout many Commonwealth nations such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa to name a few.  France also celebrates Armistice Day on November 11, as does Belgium, who host one of the biggest Armistice Day ceremonies.  And of course, most of Europe observes two minutes of silence on November 11. 

If you were here for T Stands For Tuesday, you might have seen this spread I created in my altered book.

It's a reminder of how you can help a Veteran.  Sorry about the scan.  I don't have a clue what happened, but it's clear if you click on it.


These are things you can do today, and a few you can do every day, regardless of where you live!

Although I have provided many facts over the years, this one, found on the Veterans Day Win calendar was new to me:

The War of Global Terrorism, encompassing October 7, 2001 to May 29, 2012, has seen 54,820 casualties of which 6,456 resulted in death.

One thing I want to repeat is an excerpt from something I cited in 2014:

Even the Army web site didn't get the name of Veterans Day correct, as it vacillates between Veteran's and Veterans.  According to VA.gov, the correct spelling is:

Veterans Day. Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an "s" at the end of "veterans" because it is not a day that "belongs" to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.

 This one, found on USA Federal Holidays was also something I had never read before:

The very first Veterans Day was held by then President of the United States Woodrow Wilson in 1919. When many of the troops returning from the war theaters of Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa had a shortage of food due to rationing, the President held a special dinner for them at the White House. The food of the evening was ravioli, which had just recently been introduced as an easy to make food, due to technological advances in the food industry.

Now, however, ravioli is not a common food to be eaten on Veterans Day.

Let's go make some ravioli and celebrate Veterans Day along with Art Every Day Month.  This is Day 11

and I honored all Veterans, regardless of when or where they served, regardless of country, and regardless of whether they are living or dead.  And please remember, it is Veterans Day, not Veteran's or Veterans' Day.