Newtown Square's Hometown Monthly Magazine
Mailed to homes and also read online!

Happy Veterans Day!

Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, November 2022

Veterans give us many gifts including safety, security and freedom. So how can we thank the members of our military, both past and present? Veterans Day is right around the corner, so let’s honor these service members by acknowledging the sacrifices they make and finding ways to celebrate them.

In order to honor American veterans of all wars properly, it is important to know the history of the holiday. Each year, Veterans Day is observed on November 11th, regardless of the day of the week. Why November 11th? It’s the day that signifies the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, marking the end of World War I.

Originally known as Armistice Day, Congress passed legislation in 1938 to officially dedicate November 11th to the cause of world peace. In 1954, veterans and service organizations urged Congress to change the word “Armistice” to “Veterans.” The legislation was approved in June of that year, and November 11th became the official holiday to honor our American veterans of any war. Then in 1968, due to the Uniform Holiday Bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October, ensuring a three-day weekend for federal holidays. However some states did not agree with this decision, so they continued to celebrate it on its original date. Finally in 1975, President Ford signed a law returning the annual observance of the holiday to November 11th.

Perhaps you know a veteran personally and you’re looking to honor them, or you want to contribute something meaningful to all veterans this year. There are many ways to do that, right here in our community. Veterans Day events like parades or local services are great ways to celebrate our local vets. The Delaware County Veterans Legacy organizes the annual Veterans Day Parade held in Media, PA, an enjoyable event for the community where you can clap and cheer as these service members go by. 

Veterans Day is the perfect time to ask a veteran you know about their service. Some  good questions are: What did you do in the military? How long did you serve? Why did you choose to go into a specific service branch? You may not have to say much, just listen as they tell you about their experience. You can even spend time with them in the great outdoors as the National Parks offer free admittance to all veterans on November 11th.

Whether it’s attending an event, supporting a veteran-owned business or simply striking up a conversation with a veteran, be sure to find a way to honor the bravery and sacrifice of all United States veterans. Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors wishes all of our local veterans a Happy Veterans Day, and we sincerely thank these men and women for their service!