Not Just Another Day

FYI – Here is a brief history of this day gleaned from the internet. Time has bent, if not broken, the reason why 11/11 was designated in the first place.

1918
World War I ended with the implementation of a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November, 1918.

1919
The original concept for honoring those who had fought and died in WWI was for the suspension of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

1920
On the second anniversary of the armistice, at the suggestion of church groups, President Wilson names the Sunday nearest Armistice Day Sunday, on which should be held services in the interest of international peace.

1921
Congress passes legislation approving the establishment of a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. November 11 is chosen for the date of the ceremony.

1938
Congress passes legislation making November 11 a legal Federal holiday, Armistice Day. The United States has no ‘actual’ national holidays because the states retain the right to designate their own holidays. The Federal government can in fact only designate holidays for Federal employees and for the District of Columbia. But in practice the states almost always follow the Federal lead in designation of holidays.

World War II and the Korean War create millions of additional war veterans in addition to those of the First World War already honored by Armistice Day. On June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower signs legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day.

1968
Congress passes the Monday Holiday Law which established the fourth Monday in October as the new date for the observance of Veteran’s Day. The law is to take effect in 1971.

1971-1975
The Federal observance of Veterans Day is held on the fourth Monday of October.

1975
Legislation passed to return the Federal observance of Veteran’s Day to November 11, based on popular support throughout the nation.

1978
Veteran’s Day observance reverts to November 11.

According to a Voice of America article today:

A study released last week from the public non-profit National Alliance to End Homelessness found that former U.S. military personnel now account for 25 percent of the nation's homeless population.

And finally:

Although most memorial observances take place today, the U.S. federal government is marking the Veterans Day holiday on Monday.