Difference Between

Memorial Day vs Veterans Day
 

Both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are celebrated in America, and are associated with armed forces personnel; this factor makes many confused between these two days. There are differences between these two days that are clearly outlined in this article.

Memorial Day

As the name implies, Memorial Day is a day dedicated to remembrance of personnel belonging to the military who gave up their lives for the cause of the nation in the battleground or hospitals because of wounds resulting from action on battlefront. At the end of the civil war, in 1868, 30th May was chosen as a day to honor all those who died serving in armed forces of the country. The day was chosen as around this time most of the flowering plants in the country bloom. It was at the end of WWI the day came to represent and honor all died, in all American wars, and not just civil war.

Veterans Day

The name of the day is enough to convey the message that it is celebrated to honor all those military personnel who are alive and living a retired life. The day is set aide as a day to honor the services and sacrifices made by war veterans. It was when WW I ended on 11 November that the date was set aside to be celebrated as Armistice Day. It was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 that the Great War ended. By an act of Congress, Armistice Day was established in the country, and it was only 12 years later that it was declared a national holiday. It was President Eisenhower who declared November 11 as Veterans Day. It was in 1968 that Congress passed a resolution to shift Veterans Day to 4th Monday of October. However, it had to reverse its resolution, as it was realized the earlier date of November 11 was much more significant to many Americans.