Veterans Day 2023: Facts, Difference b/w Memorial Day vs Veterans Day

Veterans Day 2023 Facts: Each Year, on November 11, the United States of America honors its veterans. It’s somehow similar to the Memorial Day holiday, which we celebrate in May. Meanwhile, the meaning of the Veterans Day holiday often gets confused with Memorial Day (Another day to honor those who served the country). We’ve completed 101 years of Veterans Day this year in 2023. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918.

Talking about the History of Veterans Day and how it became an Official public holiday? According to the Department of Defence, November 11, 1918, was considered the end of World War 1 and that day also called Armistice Day. In 1938, Armistice Day became an official holiday set aside to honor World War 1 veterans.

• According to newsweek.com, However, after World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ service organizations urged the holiday to be amended. On June 1, 1954, Congress changed the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day so all American veterans would be honored.

Now, for improving the economic situation and to boose it for a longer time, In 1968 Congress made certain federal holidays, including Veterans Day, fall on a Monday. Veterans Day was officially celebrated on the fourth Monday of October, From 1971 until 1977. However, in 1975, then-President Gerald Ford signed a law that returned Veterans Day to November 11.

Veterans Day is always observed on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. This year, it will be marked on Saturday (the Year 2023).

Talking about the difference b/w Memorial Day vs Veterans Day, Veterans Day is often used interchangeably with the significance of Memorial Day, which is celebrated in May. But. both of the holidays honor those who served their country with different meanings.

Veterans Day is a time to remember those who served their county honorably, both living and dead, although it’s focused more on the living.

The Department of Veterans Affairs explained, “Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.”

However, Memorial Day is meant to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Specifically, it’s a day to remember military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

According to History.com, As of September 12, there were 16.1 million veterans living in the United States who served during at least one war. Seven million veterans served during the Vietnam War, 5.5 million veterans served during the Persian Gulf War and two million veterans served during the Korean War.

During World War II, 16 million Americans served their country and History.com reported about 558,000 of World War II veterans were still alive as of September. While veterans live all over the country, History.com noted that three of the 50 states in America have over one million veterans among their residents. California has 1.8 million veterans, Texas has 1,7 million and Florida has 1.6 million.

Every year on Veterans Day, Arlington National Cemetery hosts the Veterans Day National Ceremony. The ceremony begins promptly at 11:00 a.m. EST with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. It then continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by various veterans’ organizations and remarks from various dignitaries.