Veterans Day 2017 Facts: Federal Holiday To Celebrate Those In Uniform

Veterans Day, a U.S. federal holiday dedicated to honoring those who served in the United States Armed Forces, which is also considered to be one of the most patriotic holidays of the year, takes place Saturday, Nov. 11.

When it first began in 1938, the public holiday was originally observed as Armistice Day in order to honor those who died in World War I. In 1954, the word "Armistice" was replaced with the word "Veterans" by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, commemorating those who served in all wars.

There is a great deal to know about this holiday that also includes some disheartening facts about the conditions of former military servicemen.

Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11 every year. This federal holiday used to be referred to as “Armistice Day” earlier as it was held on the same date that World War I hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., is the only national cemetery where servicemen from every war in the country's history have been buried. The cemetery holds a ceremony every year in honor of those who died during times of war. The commemorative ceremonies are held under the "Tomb of the Unknowns" at 11 a.m., as per the cemetery’s website.

There has been no legal requirement to close public schools on this holiday. Individual school districts have been establishing their own policies all these years, meaning some children in the country get the day off while others still have to attend school, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

California has the most veterans among any state in the United States, the Los Angeles Times had reported.

Among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, roughly 20 percent suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress or major depression, the National Veterans Foundation reported.

Apart from the U.S., other countries too celebrate Veterans Day including Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada. These countries also commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near Nov. 11. Canada, however, has Remembrance Day while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November).

In countries like Europe, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth countries, it is a common practice to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every year Nov. 11.

Here is a compilation of quotes gathered from Quote Catalog and Thought Co. on Veterans Day in order to remember those who served their country:

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” — Elmer Davis, American news broadcaster, writer, and director of the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II (1890-1958)

“I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.” — Gary Hart, American politician, diplomat, and lawyer

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” — Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister (1874-1965)