DLNews Veteran's Day:

The United States has two holidays that honor its military personnel. Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who died while serving their country, while Veterans Day is a day to celebrate all those who have ever served in the United States armed forces. Although the two holidays seem similar, they serve different purposes and histories.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was created to honor those who died in the Civil War. Over time, it grew to include those who died in any war, and in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson renamed it Memorial Day to honor its original purpose and newer meaning. The following year, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day and other holidays to specific Mondays to give federal employees three-day weekends and encourage travel and tourism. However, President Gerald Ford later returned Memorial Day to its original date of May 30.

In contrast, Veterans Day commemorates the ending of World War I, which occurred on November 11, 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, it became a federal holiday through congressional resolution in 1926. Later, in 1954, the 83rd Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all those serving in the United States armed forces.

It is important to remember the sacrifices made by those who served in the military, whether they made the ultimate sacrifice. So, when you see veterans on Veterans Day, thank them for their service and ask about their experiences in the armed forces.