November 11^th marks a day in which we all need to pay our respects to the military veterans who have served our country and kept us safe. Here we’ve compiled 10 fun facts that outline the history of Veterans Day.

1. Veterans Day was once known as Armistice Day. The term comes from an armistice between Germany and the Allied Nations on November 11, 1918 (Also known the armistice ending on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). World War I actually ended on June 28, 1919, during the Treaty of Versailles. The first Armistice Day was acknowledged on November 11, 1919.

2. Arlington National Cemetery has ceremony on Veterans Day every year to honor those who died during times of war. The ceremonies are held around the Tomb of the Unknowns and at 11:00 AM, on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb.

3. Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November).

4. There are 18.5 million veterans in the United States, according to the most recent statistics available.

5. The VA health care system had 54 hospitals in 1930, since then it has expanded to include 171 medical centers; more than 350 outpatient, community, and outreach clinics; 126 nursing home care units; and 35 live-in care facilities for injured or disabled vets.

6. In 1921, on November 11th, an American soldier was buried at Arlington Cemetery. His identity was unknown and as such, his gravesite is called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On November 11th a wreath is laid on the grave during a ceremony. It is laid by the president or by a high-ranking member of the government.

7. Approximately 35% of the veterans living today served in the United States military in the Vietnam War.

8. From 1971 to 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. In 1978, the holiday took back its rightful date on November 11 and continues to be celebrated annually on that day. However, if Veterans Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, businesses and government organizations that celebrate may be closed on the Friday or Monday before or after the holiday.

9. There is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Veterans Day. Still, some spell it Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day. 

10. The National Veterans Award was first awarded in 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, home of Raymond Weeks. According to Veterans Day facts, this award is given annually. The first person to receive the award was Congressman Ed Rees of Kansas, who wrote the legislation for, and championed the expansion of, Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

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Sources: http://www.acrdepos.com/, http://www.history.com/, http://www.cnn.com/, http://www.softschools.com/, http://facts.net/