Veterans Day takes place every year on 11th November and is intended to honor everyone in the Armed Forces who serve the United States in a big way and with great valor. These veterans served and fought to protect their country and its citizens, to keep them safe, and to preserve the American way of life. Veterans gave up their time and risked their lives for all of us, in many cases making the ultimate sacrifice as they did so.
The holiday was originally referred to as Armistice Day and was celebrated for the very first time more than 90 years ago, back in 1921. Almost half a century ago, back in 1954, President Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day in order to honor all of those who have served and lost their lives in all wars.
At 11:11 on 11th November 1921 England, France and the United States each buried an unidentified soldier in honor of those who had died during the First World War. Thus began the annual Armistice Day holiday, with both the day and the time being chosen because fighting had ceased in World War I at 11:11 on the 11th of November 1918.
In order to honor this tradition, at this time on this date every year work ceases in order to observe a moment of silence to enable people to pay their respects for these fallen heroes.
Jon Huser