Veterans Day
Monday, November 11, is Veterans Day, the federal legal holiday celebrating America’s veterans for their patriotism and willingness to sacrifice for the common good. We at Cambridge Caregivers salute our clients who are veterans, as well as our own employees and their family members who served.
Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. In 1954, the holiday was renamed “Veterans Day” to include veterans of all wars, thanks to the efforts of Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran from Birmingham, Alabama. Weeks led the first Veterans Day celebration in 1947 in Alabama and annually until his death in 1985. President Reagan honored Weeks with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the “Father of Veterans Day.”
Veterans Day is celebrated across the U.S. with a variety of events recognizing the service of military veterans. At Arlington National Cemetery, the president traditionally lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Communities host parades, ceremonies, concerts, and wreath-laying events in honor of those who served.
November 11 is not the only day set aside to recognize our military heroes. While Veterans Day commemorates the service of all U.S. veterans, Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service. In addition, Armed Forces Day also occurs in May and honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. A growing number of states are also marking Women Veterans Day, specifically honoring women who have served in the U.S. military.
And here’s a fun tidbit: while ads and calendars often note November 11 as “Veteran’s Day” or “Veterans’ Day,” there’s no apostrophe in the name. That’s per the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website, which states that official spelling has no apostrophe “because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.”
To our veterans in our Cambridge Caregivers family, we say, “Thank you for your service!”
