So you may be wondering what’s the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. Don’t worry; we’re here to help you so you won’t embarrass yourself.
Most people get confused and end up saying something that shows that they do not know the difference between the two. We’ll help clear the confusion in this article.
Memorial Day: This holiday is to honor those who have served in the military and have died. This holiday tends to fall on the very last Monday of May.
There are online resources such as the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs who will explain the meaning and Memorial Day came to be.
In their words, they recall the idea of how Memorial Day first came to be. On May 5th of 1868, three long years after the Civil War, the Grand Army of Republic wanted a day to honor those who have fallen by giving flowers to them in their grave. At the time, the mayor, John A. Logan, decided to declare this special day on May 30 to commemorate military members who had fallen in battle. The reasoning behind this date is because flowers would bloom no matter what part of the country you live in.
In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act, which officially declared this an American holiday.
Veterans Day: Veterans Day is a day to celebrate all individuals who have served in the military. This holiday falls on November 11 each year. Originally, Veterans Day was a way to honor the end of World War I. The holiday officially started on November 11 of 1918. The name of the holiday used to be called Armistice Day.
After undergoing the Korean War and World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to amend the Armistice Day by changing it to Veterans Day. This was from the Act of 1938, where veterans service organizations urged and convinced Congress for this change. On June 1 of 1954, the new legislation was approved. Officially the holiday became a day to remember veterans of America for all wars.
You’d also be surprised that people also confuse Labor Day with honoring the troops as well. Labor Day is a holiday to commemorate American workers, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the military.