Recognizing Veterans Day in Our Communities

From federal holidays to fun and unique national days, we call attention to all kinds of special occasions each month in our Southview Senior Communities. When we approach the end of the year, we’re often focused on the big family holidays, starting with Thanksgiving in November. But let’s not forget to honor local and national heroes on November 11. We thought it fitting to share a bit of history, details, and simple ways to say “thank you for your service” as we recognize Veterans Day in our communities.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

On November 11, 1918, in a railway car in France’s Compiègne Forest, a peace agreement was signed between Allied powers and Germany, which effectively ended fighting on the Western Front. World War I, however, didn’t formally end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.

This armistice agreement, signed at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, is the reason we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11. The numerals of the date have historical significance and serve as a reminder to honor the bravery and courage of military veterans across the country.

1919: Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, with a celebration that included parades and a moment of silence at 11 a.m.
1926: Congress introduced a concurrent resolution to make November 11 an annual observance.
1938: November 11 became a legal holiday known as Armistice Day, primarily to honor veterans of World War I.
1954: Veterans service organizations urged Congress to amend the Act of 1938 to replace the word “Armistice” with “Veterans,” the approval of which made November 11 a day to honor American Veterans of all wars.
1968: The signing of the Uniform Holiday Bill ensured federal employees of three-day weekends for four national Monday holidays, one of which was Veterans Day (thereby celebrating on the Monday closest to but not necessarily on November 11).
1975: After much confusion and because of the historic and patriotic significance of the original date, Gerald Ford signed a law that, in 1978, would return the observance of Veterans Day to November 11.

Honoring Veterans

Many people often confuse the meaning of Veterans Day with that of Memorial Day. The latter is commemorated in May to honor those who died in service. Veterans Day is an opportunity to thank all military members who have served this country, whether in times of peace or conflict. And it celebrates all members of every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Regardless of whether they see battle, service members exemplify courage and dedication. They’re willing to risk their lives to defend this country’s freedoms. They make unimaginable sacrifices and service contributions that deserve to be recognized on this Veterans Day holiday.

How to Celebrate Veterans

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 8.1 million military veterans in the U.S. are age 65 or older. That number is about half of the entire U.S. population of veterans. While we are unable to pinpoint an exact number, there’s a good chance that we have military veterans living within many—if not all—of our Southview Senior Communities.

And with more than 15 million living veterans in the U.S., chances are also good that many of us know military veterans of all ages. You may even have friends or family members who served.

While celebrating the veterans in your life and your community this Veterans Day, consider asking them to share their experiences. No matter what their age, veterans have their own unique stories about challenges conquered, lessons learned, and friendships developed throughout their service. If you don’t know where to start, we recommend simple questions like:

Where did you serve?
What was basic training like?
What’s something you learned and still utilize today?
What kind of jobs did you do?
What’s the best training or advice you received?

Other ways to celebrate veterans on their special day include:

Write a letter or send a card to a veteran you know
Attend a community parade or ceremony honoring local veterans
Volunteer with organizations that support veterans

And if you happen upon military members on Veterans Day while you’re out and about, be sure to thank them for their service. Even the smallest act of kindness and acknowledgement goes a long way.

Celebrate Veterans, Holidays at Southview

As we mentioned earlier, we enjoy celebrating special days and holidays across all our Southview Senior Communities. We hope you have a better understanding of how the Veterans Day holiday came to be and that you have an opportunity to learn even more from the veterans in your life and your community. We are grateful for the service of our veteran residents and look forward to hearing their stories and military memories.

If you would like to learn more about our close-knit senior communities and the ways in which we celebrate and care for our residents, schedule a tour today.