This week is another great holiday, Veteran's Day. Veteran's day is a time for us to stop and thank all Veteran's, those that have given up their lives for us and those that are still living, for protecting our freedoms. Here is the history on how Veteran’s day came to be a holiday.
World War I – early on was known as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day
An Act on May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
The City of Tempe has a quaint parade and ceremony for Veteran’s Day. The parade leaves from ASU Gammage Auditorium north on Mill to Tempe Beach Park and starts at 10am. Other cities with a Veteran’s Day Parade/Ceremonies include Mesa, Goodyear, Lake Havasu City, Phoenix, and Bullhead City.
