Memorial Day and Veterans Day are two holidays that are very important to the military community. They both honor the men and women who have served our country, but they have a difference between memorial day and veterans day. Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who have died while serving in the military. Veterans Day is a day to celebrate the service of all veterans, living or deceased.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, a federal holiday observed on November 11th, is set aside to commemorate the more than 19 million men and women who have served in the United States military.
It was established as Armistice Day on November 11th, 1919, to commemorate the first anniversary of the conclusion of World War I, which officially ended on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918.
Congress called for an annual commemoration of the occasion in 1926, and by 1938, it had become an official government holiday. After a few decades, President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally changed the name of the celebration from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, as it is now known.
The holiday was changed from November 11th to a less-defined “fourth Monday in October” according to the Uniform Holiday Act of 1968, so employees could enjoy a long weekend. This shift, however, did not endure long. President Gerald Ford reinstated the sad day to its original November 11th date in 1975 to recognize the day’s worldwide historical importance.
While it is vital to thank all who have served or are serving daily, it is crucial to show military members thanks for their sacrifice on Veterans Day. Here are various alternatives to just expressing “thank you for your service”:
Memorial Day
On springtime “decoration days” in the closing years of the Civil War and soon following, towns in the North and South, Black and white, adorned veterans’ graves with flower tributes, according to the Veterans Administration. From Classical Roman times through the twentieth century, the practice of spraying flowers on graves has been recorded.
On May 5th, 1868, three years after the Civil Battle ended, Major Gen. John Logan, commander of the Union Veterans organization – the Grand Army of the Republic – formally founded Decoration Day as a time to decorate the war dead’s graves with flowers. He chose May 30th as the commemorative day.
The first major commemoration took place that year in Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Local springtime memorials to the Civil War dead have already taken place in several locations.
By the end of the nineteenth century, Memorial Day celebrations were conducted throughout the country on May 30th. However, it wasn’t until after World War I that the day was enlarged to memorialize those who perished in all American conflicts.
Memorial Day was proclaimed a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971, yet it is still often referred to as Decoration Day. It was later moved to the final Monday in May and a few other government holidays.
Memorial Day is still a day set aside to memorialize and honor military people who died while serving their nation, especially those slain in war.
The Difference Between Memorial Day And Veterans Day
Both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are patriotic holidays that celebrate the military, but there is a fundamental distinction between them apart from when they are observed.
Memorial Day, observed on the final Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the military. This sad event is an opportunity to remember these American heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding and defending the nation they loved. Veterans Day, celebrated on November 11th, honors everyone who has served in the armed forces.
You may be wondering: What is the right method to recognize each holiday? On Memorial Day, you may remember the dead by attending local memorial ceremonies, placing flowers, and putting flags on graves at your local Veterans cemetery.
Veterans Day is a chance to do the same, but it is also a good time to express gratitude to Veteran friends and family. Veterans Day may also be observed by raising the American flag outside your house, visiting or volunteering at a Veteran facility, attending a local event, and, of course, thanking Veterans and their families for their service.
You do not need to wait for a national holiday to express your appreciation to service people. Any day is an excellent day to support Veterans, whether via a charity or by saying “thank you” to those who have served.
FAQs
Do you honor living veterans on Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, observed on the final Monday of May, commemorates service people who have died while serving their country in the military.
Is it wrong to thank a veteran on Memorial Day?
On Armed Forces Day, the weekend before Memorial Day, saying “Thank you for your service” isn’t as inappropriate. It is wrong but not offensive. At worst, it may be painful for the individual who wishes they could continue to serve.
Who does Memorial Day honor?
Memorial Day commemorates the soldiers, sailors, airmen, airwomen, and marines who died in the line of duty and did not come home. The festival originated months after the Civil War when a few towns and communities started remembering their fallen.
Do you thank the active military on Veterans Day?
While those who have died are also commemorated, Veterans Day is a day set aside to thank and celebrate ALL those who have served honorably in the military, whether in war or peace.
Conclusion
Though both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are holidays that honor those who have served in the armed forces, there is a key difference between the two.
Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who have died while serving, while Veterans Day is a day to celebrate all veterans, living or deceased. Thanks for reading!
