Today is Veterans Day, a federal holiday in the USA that honors all who have served in the US Armed Forces (and were not dishonorably discharged). In 1918, the Armistice with Germany went into effect on 11-11 at 11:00 a.m. This set Armistice Day on November 11, with the first one celebrated in 1919.
Originally, Armistice Day commemorated the end of World War I, and recognized the veterans of that war. After World War II, it was expanded to celebrate all veterans. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law establishing the holiday, and that year, the name of the day was changed to Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day, which occurs in May. Memorial Day specifically honors those who died while in military service.
Veterans Day celebrates ALL veterans who served in war or in peacetime. On this day, it is especially appropriate to thank living veterans for their service. Veterans and their families should know about the services and benefits available to them, including health care, disability, education, career assistance, and housing. The website for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is https://www.va.gov/.
Veterans Day also recognizes all veterans from previous days who are now deceased, no matter when they died. Veterans Affairs services include burial and memorial benefits such as headstones and grave markers. One way to honor a deceased veteran is to make sure that he or she does not lie forgotten in an unmarked grave. Family members or their representatives can apply for grave markers for a deceased veteran at no cost for the marker, although the cemetery may charge a “setting” fee.
Examples of veteran grave markers on the Ridge can be viewed at Mount Greenwood Cemetery on 111th Street. The staff at this cemetery has worked for over a decade to identify veterans in unmarked graves and procure markers for the graves. Just recently, working with the organization Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, more markers were installed for Civil War veterans. An example of a marker is attached.
For more information on VA burials and memorial benefits, visit https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/.
The Ridge Historical Society thanks and salutes all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the country’s history.