At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 World War I, commonly known as the Great War, comes to an end (History). On November 11, we will be celebrating Veterans’ Day, a time to commemorate
all the men and women who have served our country, but the date was strategically chosen to recognize the end of World War I.

This holiday started in 1919 as the first anniversary of the Great War. It was called Armistice Day, but it wasn’t until 1926 that it was considered to be official. That year, Congress passed a resolution to make it a national holiday, and it took twelve more years to become official, thanks to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, according to History.com.

While it is a holiday around the country, celebrations are generally subdued this year. Parades may not take place, due to COVID-19, but people can make a conscious effort to thank active duty soldiers and retired veterans for protecting and serving our country. Those who have parents and friends who are veterans might want to take them out for a nice meal on this holiday. Several restaurants are participating in serving free meals to veterans. To find out more about which ones, you can visit Deals for Veterans. While the meal is free or discounted, the time spent being appreciated would go a long way for our military members.