The nation that forgets its defenders will also be forgotten; nothing is more important to the soul of the United States of America than to remember those who gave themselves so that we can enjoy the fruits of peace and freedom
President Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
Veterans Day is one of the most special celebrations in the United States. Every November 11, those people who are still alive and who gave their service in the various wars in the world where the US Army was present are honored. It is a different celebration of Memorial Day, which occurs on the last Monday in May and remembers those who sadly died in combat for the defense of their country.
The origin of this commemoration dates back to the end of the First World War when the Allies withdrew their troops from defeated Germany and the warfare ended on November 11, 1918, and was established in the following years, through the Treaty of Versailles. In that peace-promoting document, the suspension of hostilities between nations was also indicated and from that date, a celebration known as Armistice Day began. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson made that day official in the United States.
In 1921, the body of an unknown soldier from World War I was transferred to Arlington National Cemetery in the city of Washington D.C., a site that became a symbol for the tribute that soldier and all the others. Since then, war veterans began to come to that place to honor the memory of those who died in combat. Similar ceremonies were held in Paris, under the Arc de Triomphe, and at Westminster Abbey in London, all coinciding on November 11 at 11:00 am.
The United States Congress, through a resolution of President Calvin Coolidge, established Armistice Day as a national celebration in 1926. The idealistic spirit of that event was that the end of the first war would be the end of all wars. Massive parades were held and people took to the streets to celebrate peace with a great party. In 1938 it was established as an official holiday; just one year before the outbreak of World War II were more than 16 million Americans participated and thousands died in service.
In 1947, Raymond Weeks, a WWII survivor and former literature professor who fought in France, influenced society in his native Birmingham, Alabama, to also pay tribute to veterans at the Armistice Day celebration. of any war. Veteran General Dwight Eisenhower, future President of the United States, fervently supported this initiative and thus became Veterans Day in 1954. Weeks was in charge of the celebrations of this day until the end of his life. In 1982 President Ronald Reagan named him “The Father of Veterans Day.”
Due to the important role that the American Union has played in the various armed conflicts in the world, this date is considered one of the most important events in the nation, especially because it is the opportunity to personally thank the soldiers for their service and celebrate his return home. As of Memorial Day 1958, the bodies of several unknown soldiers have been recovered for burial in the United States; combatants from the first and second world wars and the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and subsequent war conflicts, today they are also honored and remembered.
Thus, both Veterans Day and Memorial Day are national holidays that go hand in hand to remember the legacy of people who should be considered heroes and heroines. For this reason, commemorative events are held in various cities in the United States. Official ceremonies are held, where the flag is placed at half-staff, two minutes of silence are observed in memory of the fallen, and they are official holidays. On the other hand, various businesses grant veterans discounts and courtesies. The streets are filled with cartels and everything is planned to make a worthy, warm, and well-deserved tribute.
Today at Del Pueblo Funeral Home, we want to be part of this tribute and remember. There are not enough words to praise the generous actions of those who served in the military; who live or who have already left. Because it is time to pay special attention to our beloved veterans, we remind you that we make the most difficult moments easy.
