Veterans Day is a significant federal holiday in the United States that occurs annually on November 11. On this day, the country honors and pays tribute to all the brave military veterans who have served in the active military, naval, air force, and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Armistice Day, which was later renamed Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the United States, was held on November 11 each year. It was initially observed to honor the veterans of World War I who fought for peace and the end of all wars. However, U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, dedicated to all veterans.
The first Veterans Day celebration occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947, organized by Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran. He led the effort to expand the observance of Armistice Day to honor veterans of all wars. Later, this day was formally recognized as a National Veterans Day holiday by President Dwight Eisenhower on June 1, 1954.
Raymond Weeks was an American linguist who dedicated his life to serving his country and fellow veterans. He is credited with leading the effort to establish Veterans Day, which includes parades and other festivities to honor all veterans. Raymond Weeks was born on August 18, 1908, in Columbus, Georgia, and died on May 6, 1985, in Birmingham.
Edward Rees, who was born on June 3, 1886, on a farm near Emporia, was a member of the U.S. Congress and played a significant role in the creation of Veterans Day. He supported a bill to honor all veterans on Armistice Day since it only honored the veterans of World War I at that time. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law on June 1, 1954, and issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation on October 8, 1954. The first Veterans Day was celebrated in November of the same year.
Alvin J. King, a shoe salesman, proposed the idea of creating a special day to honor all veterans or adapting Armistice Day to honor all veterans since Armistice Day only honored the veterans of World War I at that time. His idea was eventually supported by Edward Rees, which led to the establishment of Veterans Day.
