The DC Traveler

Today, Veterans Day, is the day we, as a nation, honor all veterans who fought to protect the freedoms we often take for granted.  

While many of the recent wars (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq to name a couple) may not have been popular, nor were they rallied behind by the citizenry as happened during World War II, the American soldier’s willingness to sacrifice their lives to protect the U.S. way of life should never be questioned. Any man or woman who honorably wore a soldier’s uniform is a hero in my book. To all the veterans and soldiers serving today…Thank You.

There are several Veterans Day presentations and events today, Sunday, Nov. 11th around Washington, DC, including:  

• 9:00 a.m. – Noon and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery
• 11:00 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery 
• 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the National World War II Memorial
• 11:00 a.m. at the African-American Civil War Memorial (1200 U St., NW)
• 1:00 p.m. at U.S. Navy Memorial 
• 1:00 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The origins of Veterans Day go back to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month in the final day of World War I. November, 11 at 11:00 a.m. in 1918.  The war was called the “Great War” or the “War to End All Wars”.  It was neither.  The following year, President Wilson proclaimed that November 11th would be recognized as Armistice Day. A day to recognize the heroism of soldiers who died in the country’s service. In 1938, it became an National Holiday.

But with the end World War II ten years earlier and the Korean War over for a year, in 1954, Congress voted to designate that date, a day to honor all American veterans of all wars.

Images - Purple heart - Flickr, Iwo Jima Memorial - personal collection

_______________________________________________