Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was meant to celebrate the end of major hostilities in WWI which ended at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
Early traditions included 2 "Minutes of Silence" at 11 a.m. The first minute to remember the 20+ million people who lost their lives during WWI and the second minute to pray for the living who had lost loved ones.
In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower officially signed into law the changing of Armistice Day to Veterans Day...to honor all veterans.
Veterans Day seems to be a forgotten holiday by many (especially students) across the United States. Once a solemn celebration to the dedication and sacrifice of U.S. Military Veterans...it seems to have been forgotten in many cities, schools, and organizations across the country. I fondly remember honoring and listening to the stories of WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans during school assemblies and the lasting impact these stories had on my life...a much longer lasting impact than text messaging, "reality" TV or even sitting in U.S. History class!!!
A famous poem "In Flanders Fields" (a generic term for WWI battlefields) was popularized by the soldier and poet John McCrae...here is the first verse.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row.
That mark our place; and in the sky
the larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
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