What is Veterans Day?

Today is Veterans Day here in the United States and many people have often wondered what the difference is between Memorial Day (celebrated in May) and Veterans Day (celebrated in November) really is. Now for many people, Memorial Day has gone from being a day of remembereance for the sacrifice made by many of those who have served in our armed forces to the 'unofficial' start to the summer travel season. And while it's convenient to link one to the other, I think it only serves to marginalize (among some... not all) the meaning of that day and Veterans Day. That shouldn't be the case as both days are very important and though they appear to be the same on the surface, there are differences that make each of them important for what they commemorate.

Memorial Day, celebrated in May, was first marked at the end of the Civil War. It was meant to be a unified day of rememberance of those who had given their lives in the Civil War which had only recently ended. It was meant to be an act that all Americans could mark in order to remember those who had fallen on both sides of the conflict. It was an important step in the healing process and helped bring the nation back together after nearly being torn apart by the ravages of the Civil War. There are those who credit General John Murray of Waterloo, New York with popularizing the day by marking the day each year and performing some act of rememberance for those who had fallen in the course of war. Soon the Federal Government passed a proclamation that officially designated the last Monday in May to be the day known as Memorial Day.

Now this caused some confusion as shortly after the end of World War I, President Wilson authorized the 11th of November to be commemorated as Armistice Day to honor those who had served in the military in World War I. Within a few years it was changed to honor not just the doughboys of World War I but all veterans who had served in the military and that was the major difference between the two holidays. Memorial Day was for those who had given their lives in service of their country while Veterans Day was meant to honor those who gave their lives but also continued to serve their country through continued service. it's a subtle difference but one that is equally important to note.

As I mentioned earlier, the sad thing is that many have begun to take a nonchalant attitude towards remembering our veterans on both Veterans Day and Memorial Day. While it's great that we can mark the start of summer with Memorial Day weekend, we shouldn't forget that the people who died serving their nation (our Nation) gave their lives so that we could enjoy this freedom. I'm sure the families that have loved ones serving in the war zones don't need to be reminded of that fact and those that have loved ones in the military know about what it takes to secure that freedom but it's up to the rest of us to pay homage to that fact. So today if you see a vet, don't shrug and say that "they have two holidays for soldiers... Memorial day and Veterans Day"; both are unique and equally important. Thank them for their service and for serving their country.