With Veterans Day being last week, Madison Local Schools would like to thank all who have served our country. Doing so inspires great courage and dedication as they take on something larger than each of us. We would like to salute our veterans, especially those who are a part of our Madison Family and Community.
Each of our schools observed Veterans Day this year, hosting speakers and finding other ways to recognize the immeasurable duty to our country our veterans have fulfilled. North Elementary’s guest speaker, Steve Teresi, Navy Veteran, spoke virtually to students. North also featured a special performance by their fifth graders and the Student Council made over 100 posters honoring veterans related to North Elementary families. View the North Veterans Day Assembly here.
We’d also like to provide some interesting facts about this important day. These come directly from the US Department of Defense.
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There is no apostrophe in Veterans Day: How to denote “Veterans” is a conundrum: is it Veteran’s? Or Veterans’? Nope, it’s just Veterans, no apostrophe at all, because this is not a day that “belongs” to veterans, but instead just honors all veterans.
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Veterans Day is not the same as Memorial Day: Once again, this is confusing for many people, but Memorial Day honors those who gave their lives for our country, and Veterans Day honors anyone who has served, with a focus on thanking those who are still with us for their commitment and sacrifices.
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Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day: November 11, 1918 is largely considered the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars.” This is when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice – on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It became an official holiday in 1938, primarily to honor veterans of WWI. Then in 1954, following WWII and the Korean War, the name was changed from Armistice to Veterans in order to honor all of those who have served.
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For a while, Veterans Day was honored on the fourth Monday of October: This was done in 1968, as Congress attempted to standardize holidays on Mondays. But people were unhappy about the change, and President Gerald Ford signed a law officially making it November 11 beginning in 1978.
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Other countries celebrate their own Veterans Day: Canada & Australia call November 11 Remembrance Day. In Canada, many wear red poppies to commemorate their war dead. In Australia, the day is more like our Memorial Day. Great Britain also calls it Remembrance Day and celebrates on the Sunday closest to November 11. They hold parades, services, and observe two minutes of silence to honor those who have died in war.
If you’d like to test your Veterans Day knowledge, challenge yourself with this quiz.
With honor, respect, and gratitude to all our veterans, thank you!