Veteran’s Day

Veterans Day became a legal holiday in the United States in 1938. Originally known as Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of World War I fighting on November 11, 1918. The term "Veterans Day" was first used in 1947 at a parade in Birmingham, Alabama, organized by World War II veteran Raymond Weeks.

Please remember that without these veterans and their sacrifices, we would not enjoy the blessings of the present in this wonderful country. Due to this fact, there are multiple laws related to Veterans Day, including federal, state, and employer laws:

Federal
The U.S. Congress established Veterans Day as a legal holiday on November 11 to honor the nation's veterans. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determines which federal offices and institutions are closed on Veterans Day.
Why November 11? During World War I, the fighting ended on November 11, 1918, when an armistice went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

State
Forty-nine states recognize Veterans Day as a state holiday, with the exception of Wisconsin. (Come on, Wisconsin! What's going on, you cheeseheads?)

Employer
Five states require private employers to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day: Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Tennessee. Employers can choose whether to offer paid or unpaid time off.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This act protects veterans with disabilities from employment discrimination. The ADA prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from treating employees or applicants unfavorably based on disability.

HIREVets
This federal recognition program, launched in 2017, recognizes employers who recruit and hire veterans. Employers must apply for the program and show hiring statistics to be listed as recipients.

Public Law 94-97
Signed by President Gerald R. Ford in 1975, this law returned the observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11.

Public Law 114-240
Approved in 2016, this law encourages the nationwide observance of two minutes of silence on Veterans Day.

Bill 347
This South Carolina bill requires schools to devote at least one hour of the school day to studying the history and meaning of Veterans Day.

Recommended Practices
On Veterans Day, it is recommended to observe two minutes of silence at 2:11 PM Eastern Standard Time. But why 2:11 PM Eastern time? The tradition of a two-minute silence to mark the end of World War I originated in Britain, where it has been observed annually on Armistice Day since 1919. The idea for the two-minute silence came from Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, who was inspired by a practice he observed in South Africa during World War I.

When: At 11 AM on November 11Why: To mark the time in 1918 when the guns of Europe fell silent after four years of warWho: To honor those who lost their lives fighting for their countryHow: Observed at war memorials and in public places

The United States observes a two-minute silence on Veterans Day every year on the eleventh month, on the eleventh day, at the eleventh minute, so that silence occurs in unison across the country. This collective silence reminds us that our freedom is protected by those who fight to maintain peace. For the East Coast, this silence takes place at 2:11 PM Eastern Standard Time to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the country's history.

IT IS THE LAW

May God Bless You, Your Business, and the United States of America,

Tom Winslow