Celebrating peoples Freedoms And The Origins of Veterans Day.

In 1921′ an unknown World War 1 American Soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The site on a hillside overlooking The Potomac River And the City of Washington D.C. , became the focal point of reverence for America’s Veterans .

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England And France’ where an unknown soldier was buried in each Nation’s highest place of honor (in England Westminster Abbey; in France;the Arc de Triomphe(.

Theese memorial gestures all took place on November 11′ giving universal regcognition to the celebrated ending of the World War 1 fighting at 11 am ., November 11th’1918 (the 11th day of the 11th month ). The day became known as Armistice Day.

Armistice Day changed to honor all Veterans.

The first celebration Using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham ‘ Alabama in 1947. Raymond Weeks ‘ a World War 2 veteran organized ” National Veterans Day,”which included a parade And other festivities to honor all veterans. The event was held on November’11th then designated Armistice Day. Later U.S. Represenitive  Edward Reese of Kansas proposed a bill  that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954′ Congress passed the bill that President EisenHower signed November 11 as Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received the President Citizens Medal from President Reagan in November 1982. Weeks’ local parade And Ceremonies is now an annual event Celebrated nationwide.

On Memorial Day 1958′ two more unidentified American War dead were brought from overseas And interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier’ of World War 1 . One was killed in World War 2 ‘ The other in the Korea War.  In 1984’ an unknown serviceman from the Vietnum War was placed alongside the others.