Posted on May 27, 2014
SGM Matthew Quick
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Memorialvsveterans
Pretty good graphical tool to educate the general population (and some servicemembers).
Posted in these groups: 5f4d5dbb NCOPDVets Veterans DayMd Memorial Day
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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Edited 10 y ago
Slightly inaccurate when it comes to Veterans day. That's more of a description of Armed Forces Day. It goes more like :

Memorial Day: to honor all those who have fallen in defense of their country.

Veterans Day: to honor those who have served in war. ("With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars".)

Armed Forces Day: to honor all those who have served in the military.
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MSG Wade Huffman
MSG Wade Huffman
10 y
Also, Memorial Day was originally referred to as Decoration Day, originating as a day where the graves of veterans of the Civil War were decorated.
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SGM Matthew Quick
SGM Matthew Quick
10 y
SSG Hasburn,

Since President Eisenhower tapped the Administrator (now Secretary) of Veterans' Affairs as the Veterans Day national coordinator, don't think it's possible for them (the VA) to 'put their own spin on it'.

Thoughts?
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
10 y
None really needed. The legislation is what it is, barring a legislative change. If the VA is putting out bad info, we can just add that to their list of incompetences.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
10 y
Im just trying to find that in official writing. I don't mean some websites FAQ, but an official document. I haven't found any official change.
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SFC Physical Security Program Manager
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A great tool for educating those who do not know the difference. However I have seen social media "groups" pouncing on people for not knowing the difference. I don't think public shaming or embarrassment is required. The fact that people are taking the time to be grateful should be applauded, and we as Veterans/Service members should take the opportunity to educate those who do not or were never told the difference in these sacred days.
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MAJ Dallas D.
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I have to teach this to not only civilians but Veterans as well. When my neighbors told me this weekend Thank you for your service and because of you we are able to BBQ this weekend. I told them thank you but this weekend is not about me it is about our fallen heroes. That is why we have Veterans day and Memorial day. It was funny they all said you know we had never really thought about it but thank you!
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MAJ Alvin B.
MAJ Alvin B.
10 y
Great comments all. As with man things these holidays evolved over time. Memorial Day, originally decoration day grew out of the US Civil War and the desire to decorate the graves of the fallen. It became Memorial Day by 1878 and an official Holiday in the early 1970s.

Veteran's Day (Nov 11) originally Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the fighting in WW I. Due to the large scale of that War became Memorial Day in the British Empire, -- in effect their version of our Memorial Day. SO while we honor our dead in May, Europe honors their dead in Nov, and we honor all our Veterans.
Armed Forces Day - grew from an attempt to down play the individual service birthdays after the creation of the Department of Defense. It is not a federal holiday and outside of the military, in my experience, almost unknown. It was (if memory serves) intended to honor all of the Uniformed Services, -- and only by extension those who serve. 
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