Veterans Day is the celebration of the men and women who sacrifice their lives to serve the country.  Why is Veterans day celebrated on November 11^th? World War I, known as the Great War, ended when the treaty of Versailles was signed in France June 1919. Before the treaty was signed, an armistice was put in place to stop fighting on November 11^th at the 11^th hour, this day was considered the day the Great War was over. President Woodrow Wilson decided that November 11^th would now be considered Armistice Day, to celebrate the heroes who fought and died for the United States. On May 13, 1938, an Act had officially recognized Armistice Day as a holiday. But, Following World War I came World War II and many others, so in 1954 legislation was approved to replace “Armistice” with “Veterans” instead.

Though Veterans Day is on the day World War I ended, there still have been many wars and there are still brave men and women who fight for the United States today. Veterans Day is a day to honor those who have fought and are still fighting. War is a traumatic thing, and it is said that soldiers bring war home with them. These brave people fight for the United States and have to put their family aside to protect those they don’t even know. It is important to take Veterans day to thank and recognize men and women who serve or have served in the United States military, they sacrificed a lot, including their lives, to protect the United States.

The United States is very fortunate to have such a strong military full of brave men and women. So we thank all those who have served and do serve to protect the United States of America.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Works Cited

“History of Veterans Day.” Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 July 2015, www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp. Accessed 11 Nov. 2019.

McCrae, John. “In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields. Accessed 11 Nov. 2019.