Happy Veterans Day From Gettysburg Blog

Well, it’s Veteran’s Day and I’m sure we have plenty of veterans that visit Gettysburg every year. We have plenty of veterans buried here.

The U.S Civil War is one of the bloodiest wars in history. Ever since this historic moment in our nation’s history, we have honored our veterans in a very special way. Today marks that day. While Veterans Day was not observed officially until November 11, 1919 to commemorate the day that ended World War I, Americans have always honored its fallen heroes. Initially, President Woodrow Wilson named the holiday Armistice Day. In 1921 Congress officially declared the day a federal holiday.

President Dwight Eisenhower, who retired to Gettysburg after leaving the Oval Office, changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to include veterans who served in World War II and the Korean Conflict. In 1968 Congress passed a law changing the date of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. In 1975 it was changed back to November 11 again. The law took effect in 1978 and observance of Veterans Day has been on November 11 ever since.

Gettysburg Blog honors America’s veterans on this day.