Each year on November 11, Veterans Day is celebrated in the United States to honor military veterans. The reason Veterans Day falls on November 11 is because the hostilities of World War I officially came to an end at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The holiday was originally called Armistice Day but was renamed in 1954.
In a speech given on November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued an address to the United States of America, expressing his thoughts on the new holiday. The end of the address reads, “To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”
Here is a list of songs and full Music & the Spoken Word specials to help you honor the veterans who have served in our military.