BND columnist provides guide for understanding the history, importance of Veterans Day

Q. Veteran’s Day is coming up and I don’t think a lot of Americans know what Veterans Day is all about. I wonder if you would be so kind as to tell all your readers a little about it and that, for one thing, it is a day to thank veterans for their service to our country. It doesn’t matter how old they are or what war they served in or if they didn’t serve in a war but were in the service — it is still a day to thank any and all of them.

A. Thank you for your comments and your request. I will gladly provide some background on why Veterans Day is such a very, very important day — not only in our country’s history, but for our country.

• Let’s start with how it began: Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. It was established as a United States legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which was identified as Nov. 11, 1918.
• However, World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28, 1919.
• But because the fighting ended seven months before that when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, that date was thus considered the end of “the war to end all wars.”
• Therefore, in 1938, legislation was passed which read: “Nov. 11 is dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day” to honor World War I veterans.
• After World War II and the Korean War, it was the 83rd U.S. Congress who amended the Act of 1938 and changed the word, “Armistice” to “Veterans Day.”
• After approval on June 1, 1954, Nov 11 became a day to honor all American veterans who have served our country in war or peace — dead or alive.”
• In 1968 more changes: In order to provide three-day weekends for federal employees in accordance with the Uniformed Holiday Bill, the observance of Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October.
• However, President Gerald Ford signed a law Sept. 20, 1975, returning the date to Nov. 11, which became effective in 1978.
• No apostrophe. You will note there is no apostrophe in the word “Veterans” because “the holiday honors all veterans and therefore there is no apostrophe.”

And, yes, most assuredly on Veterans Day (and every day) it is appropriate to thank all veterans for their unselfish service to our great country.