Useless Friday Info

This Friday’s info is not really so “useless”.   Actually it’s pretty important.

As you will see, most of it has to do with those who have served in the military or at least the information revolves around the military or our veterans.  I thought that since we observed “Veterans Day” this week, then it was only fitting that you have a little information or some military facts to put in your arsenal (You like that don’t you?).

So here we go:

“World War I was officially concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, at 11 a.m. in 1918.  On November 11th of the following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared that day as “Armistice Day” in honor of the peace.”  (The term armistice means “truce” or the end of wartime hostilities)

“In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington Cemetery with a ceremony on November 11th.  After this dedication, Armistice Day was adopted in many states and at the federal level as a day to honor veterans.  This was made official in 1938 when an act of Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday.”

“In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.  For several years in the 1970’s, Veterans Day was observed in October by many states, but in 1978 it was returned to November 11th.”

“Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day, center around the Tomb of the Unknowns.  To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.”

“As of last year, 23.2 million military veterans populate the United States.  Of these, 9.2 million are 65 or older and 1.9 million were younger than 35.”