Happy Veteran’s Day 2016 from the Jefferson County Post!

Veterans Day 2016 is here! With so many holidays being celebrated, perhaps you only know the holiday vaguely, as just another day off of work or school. You might even be confused about what this whole Veterans Day thing is. Here are a few facts and tips to celebrate a monumentally important holiday for America.

What exactly is Veterans Day? Veterans Day originally began back in 1918 with the signing of a peace treaty outside of the city of Versailles, France. The treaty was signed on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of that year. The fighting would continue for another 7 months with the official proclamation of peace coming in June of the following year. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day. In November of 1919, President Wilson declared November 11th the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original concept for celebration was a day observed with parades and a brief suspension of business, beginning at 11 A.M. Congress would not pass an official resolution for observance until 1926, and Veterans Day would not become a national holiday until 1938.

Aren’t Veterans Day and Memorial Day the same thing? People commonly confuse the two holidays. To be clear, Memorial Day is a day to honor American service members who have died in service to their county, or as an eventual result from their injuries sustained during battle. Veterans Day is a day to pay tribute to all American veterans, living or dead.

President Eisenhower would change the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954. In 1968 the holiday would be moved to the 4th Monday in October, due to the Uniform Holidays Bill passed by congress that year. However, President Ford would return Veterans Day back to November 11th, to highlight the historical significance of the date.

What can I do to celebrate Veterans Day? There are currently 23.2 million military veterans in the United States. If you wish to celebrate the holiday in its fullest spirit, simply use the day to volunteer with or thank veterans in your community or family.

If you are a past or current member of the military, there are several Veterans Day Freebies that are being offered around the area. Chili’s is giving all veterans and active duty personnel a free meal from a special menu all day on Veterans Day. Olive Garden is also giving away a free entrée from a special menu to active duty and military veterans to celebrate the holiday. In the mood for a steak? Calhouns is offering ale steaks, ribs, and an assortment of other meals for free to veterans.

Looking for other sweet deals? Dunkin Donuts is giving a free donut or coffee (of any variety) to all active duty or retired personnel all day long. The National Parks Service is joining in and waiving entrance fees for everyone. Great Clips is also offering veterans a free haircut, or a card to receive a new haircut at a later date. However you choose to celebrate the holiday, Veterans Day, and the men and women it honors, are vital pieces of our nation’s history, present, and future. May we not sit idly by on the holiday, but remember, thank, and honor the people who have made this country great.