17. Veterans Day – A Holiday Honoring All Soldiers
Veterans Day is an official United States holiday
on November 11th every year. While Memorial Day
those who have died while serving in any
the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces --
, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, Veterans Day honors
members of the armed forces, especially the living.
a U.S. federal holiday, government offices and schools
closed, and most people have the day off
work. Banks are also closed. If November 11th
on a Sunday, then the holiday is observed
the following Monday.
The holiday was first observed
World War I, which ended On November 11
. It was called Armistice Day then and was
about celebrating the absence of war and honoring
that served in that one war. It didn't
known as Veterans Day until 1954 after World
II and the Korean War, when there were
more members of the armed forces.
Many restaurants
free meals to veterans on the date. There
always a special ceremony at Arlington National Military
in Washington D.C. This ceremony involves a wreath
placed over the grave of The Unknown Soldier.
major cities also hold parades on this date.
U.S. flag is usually flown at half-mast as
remembrance to those soldiers who have died and
ceremonies observe a moment of silence for the
reason. In Canada the holiday is called Remembrance
. One symbol of the day is the poppy
. The red poppy flower is said to represent
be a symbol of the blood of soldiers.
people wear or give out poppy flowers on
day.
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