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General Dwight Eisenhower , who was all for the idea . Weeks then organized the first Veterans Day celebration in 1945 in Alabama and every year since , until he died in 1985 . In 1982 , he was honored by President Reagan with the Presidential Citizenship Medal . Weeks was also named the ‘ Father of Veterans Day ’ by Elizabeth Dole .
In 1954 , Ed Rees , the U . S . Representative from Emporia , Kansas , presented a bill to establish the holiday to Congress . Eisenhower , who was then the president ( and also from Kansas ), signed the bill into law on May 26 , 1954 , eight and a half years after Raymond Weeks held the first Veterans Day . After having been through both World War II and the Korean War , the 83rd U . S . Congress — at the urge of the veterans ’ service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word ‘ Armistice ’ and inserting the word ‘ Veterans .’ With the approval of this legislation on June 1 , 1954 , November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars .
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11 , regardless of what day of the week on which it falls . The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date , but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day : A celebration to honor America ’ s veterans for their patriotism , love of country , and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good .
Veterans Day Around the World
Several countries honor their veterans each year on November 11 , although the name and types of commemorations differ somewhat from Veterans Day celebrations in the United States . For example , Canada and Australia observe “ Remembrance Day ” on November 11 , and Great Britain observes “ Remembrance Day ” on the Sunday nearest to November 11 . There are similarities and differences between these countries ’ Remembrance Day and America ’ s Veterans Day . Canada ’ s observance is quite like the U . S . celebration , in that the day is intended to honor all who served in Canada ’ s Armed Forces . However , unlike in the U . S ., many Canadians wear red poppy flowers on November 11 in honor of their war dead . In Australia , Remembrance Day is very much like
America ’ s Memorial Day , a day to honor that nation ’ s war dead .
In Great Britain , the day is commemorated by church services and parades of ex-service members in Whitehall , a wide ceremonial avenue leading from London ’ s Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square . Wreaths of poppies are left at the Cenotaph , a war memorial in Whitehall , which was built after the First World War . At the Cenotaph and elsewhere in the country , a twominute silence is observed at 11 a . m ., to honor those who lost their lives in wars .
Veterans Day vs . Memorial Day
Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day . Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country , particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle . While those who died are also remembered , Veterans
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