Across the country today, ceremonies will be held to honor the sacrifices and bravery of those who have served and are currently serving in the military. Celebrations and commemorations will be held across the nation, from big metropolises like Washington, D.C. to small rural towns.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, which was the day fighting ended between allied and German forces in World War I. Since President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it a national holiday in 1938, it has been designated as a day to honor military members who have served in times of both war and peace.
Today, in the nation's capital, the Veterans Day commemorations began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial at 9 a.m., according to The Washington Post.
The commemorations will continue at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m., and will include a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There are no tickets, and the event is free and open to the public. However, space is limited. It is advised to arrive early, because the amphitheater will closed once it is at capacity. Gates opened at 8 a.m.
It will be continued by a two-minute moment of silence and wreath-laying ceremony for the Air Force at 11 a.m. on One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, Va.
The Harmony Heritage Singers, an all-veteran barbershop chorus group, will perform at 11 a.m. at Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens. It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of George Washington at 2 p.m. Active-duty military members and veterans can visit Mount Vernon free of charge.
At noon, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Lone Sailor statue. Authors Dwight Zimmerman and John Gresham will also present Uncommon Valor: The Medal of Honor and The Six Warriors Who Earned it in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to About.com Washington, D.C.
The Vietnam Women's Memorial will also celebrate its 20th anniversary. Singer Jan Daley, who entertained troops in Vietnam, will perform at 12:30 p.m., and female veterans will tell stories about the war.
At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a wreath will be laid and several speakers and a color guard will honor Vietnam War veterans at 1 p.m.
The Women in Military Service for America Memorial will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and will include formal military honors, veterans stories, a wreath-laying and a keynote address by Susan Scanlan, the president of the National Council of Women's Organizations.
The Main Reading Room in the Library of Congress will also be open today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
*Editors Note: A previous version of this story mistakenly wrote, "President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday in 1938." It's been changed to say, "President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it a national holiday in 1938." (President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in November 1919.)*
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