President Eisenhower ’ s letter to Harvey V . Higley , Administrator of Veterans ’ Affairs , designating him Chairman , Veterans Day National Committee : The White House Office October 8 , 1954 Dear Mr . Higley : I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday , November 11 , 1954 as Veterans Day . It is my earnest hope that all veterans , their organizations , and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day . With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning , I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee . In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities , I have designated you to serve as Chairman . You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible .
I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day , 1954 .
Sincerely , Dwight D . Eisenhower of all wars .
In 1968 , the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays : Washington ’ s Birthday , Memorial Day , Veterans Day , and Columbus Day . Under this bill , Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October . Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date . The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct . 25 , 1971 .
Finally on September 20 , 1975 , President Gerald R . Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov . 11 , beginning in 1978 . Since then , the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov . 11 .
The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day ?
Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle . Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank
and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime .
SALUTING ALL OF OUR VETERANS
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