Summary
From the beginning, Veterans Day was called Armistice day and was to remember the sacrifces that men and women made during the World War I in order to ensure a lasting peace. On November 11, parades with soldiers who had survived the war marched through their hometowns and politicians and veteran officers gave speaches. Even the president at that time made a speach and in 1938, the Congress voted to make it a legal holiday. But after the World War II many veterans of that war felt like they had little connecion to the First World War, so that Armistice Day was not significant for them. In 1954, president Eisenhower officialy changed the name to Veterans Day. The celebrations include cermonies, parades, concerts and speaches. Some Americans also observe a moment of silence for the ones who fought in the wars. People gather at war memorials and at other national war monuments. Families who have lost someone lays flowers and wreats as they think about peace and avoidence of future wars.
The Veterans History Project was created in 2000. It is a project of the Library of Congress and it relies on volunteers to collect and preserve stories and accounts of U.S. veterans who have fought in war. These are colected in oral history inter-
views, memoirs, letters, diaries, and photographs. Surviving veterans can joing groups like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to get support. On Veterans Day they raise founds for their charitable activities that support disabled veterans and their families. And by remembering veterans and all that they went through, perhaps the leaders of nations will strive to find peaceful solutions to world problems, using war only as a very last resort.
The Veterans History Project was created in 2000. It is a project of the Library of Congress and it relies on volunteers to collect and preserve stories and accounts of U.S. veterans who have fought in war. These are colected in oral history inter-
views, memoirs, letters, diaries, and photographs. Surviving veterans can joing groups like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to get support. On Veterans Day they raise founds for their charitable activities that support disabled veterans and their families. And by remembering veterans and all that they went through, perhaps the leaders of nations will strive to find peaceful solutions to world problems, using war only as a very last resort.