So today is the day we set aside each year to honor our veterans – those who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces. This tradition has a rather long history here in the United States, stretching back to 1921 when an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The site became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans, given its view of the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C. from a hillside overlook. 
Similar ceremonies took place earlier in France and England, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor, and each of these memorial gestures took place on November 11. The significance of this was to give universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11 hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as Armistice Day , the precursor to Veteran's Day.
The first time the term Veteran’s Day was used was in Birmingham, Alabama on November 11, 1947. Raymond Weeks organized a National Veteran’s Day, replete with a parade and other festivities. 
Finally in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law making Veteran’s Day an official holiday to be observed on November 11. Interesting tidbit: In 1868, a law was passed moving Veteran’s Day to the fourth Monday in October, and it stayed that way for ten years. (Anybody out there remember that???) But the holiday was too ingrained in the collective consciousness as being November 11, so the 1978 Congress returned it to its traditional date, where it has remained ever since.
So, there you go…a history of the holiday itself, for what it’s worth. But all I really wanted to say was…
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TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR
COUNTRY, THANK YOU…
YOU ARE HEROES…
ALL OF YOU…
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