Veterans Recognition Week
November 5-11, 2011

Pursuant to 2007 Wisconsin Act 22, the State of Wisconsin has declared that the 7-day period that ends on November 11 is designated as “Veterans Recognition Week” in Wisconsin to recognize the contribution and sacrifices veterans have made to our society, including those who have given their lives in service. The Governor shall issue annually a suitable proclamation for the observance of “Veterans Recognition Week” encouraging all citizens to honor veterans during the week, emphasizing educational efforts directed at teaching students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Hire A Veteran Week
November 6-12, 2011

Pursuant to 2007 Wisconsin Act 22, the State of Wisconsin has declared the week of November that starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday in which November 11 falls is designated “Hire a Veteran Week” in Wisconsin to recognize the contribution veterans have made to our society and the special needs of unemployed veterans and to encourage the hiring of unemployed veterans. The Governor shall issue annually a suitable proclamation for the observance of “Hire a Veteran Week” encouraging all employers to hire veterans.

Veterans Day History

World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” The following year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, saying "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 the nations.” The original conception of Armistice Day called for parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business at 11:00 am.

In May 1938, an act passed declaring November 11th a legal holiday dedicated to the cause of peace and to be celebrated and known as Armistice Day. In 1954, after the United States had mobilized troops for World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress amended that act by replacing the word armistice with the word veterans. Thus November 11th became known as Veterans Day, a day to honor veterans of all wars. In October 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation and created a Veterans Day Committee to coordinate the planning for Veterans Day activities.

With the passage of the Uniforms Holiday Bill in 1968, the observance of Veterans Day was moved to a Monday. October 25, 1971, was the first Veterans Day not celebrated on November 11th. Due to the historic and patriotic significance of November 11th, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law in 1975 returning the day to November 11, beginning in 1978.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls, preserving the significance of the date. It also focuses attention on the true purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Veterans Day Links

2011 Wisconsin Veterans Day and Recognition Week Events List

2010 Presidential Veterans Day Proclamation

2011 Wisconsin Governor's Veterans Day Proclamation

2011 Wisconsin Governor's Veterans Recognition Week Proclamation

2011 Wisconsin Governor's Hire A Veteran Week Proclamation

2011 Veterans Day Column – Recognize Veterans as Vital Contributors to the Success of Our Economy – by Secretary John A. Scocos

America's Wars

Military Family Month - Presidential Proclamation

“Thank a Veteran at Work” Initiative

VA 2011 Veterans Day Teachers Resource Guide - Veterans Day provides a great opportunity for teaching students about those who have served our country in the military and the significance of Veterans Day. The resource guide has a section for teachers, a section for students, a section for kids, and suggested activities for all ages of students.

VA Kids - Games, classroom activities and information about veterans and VA for teachers and students.

Veterans Data

Veterans Day Facts from the Census Bureau

Veterans Day Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Veterans Day History

Veterans Day National Committee

Veterans Day Origins

Veterans Day Poster Gallery

Veterans History Project - The Library of Congress invites you to join it in collecting audio- and video-taped oral histories, along with documents such as letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and home movies, of America's war veterans and those who served in support of them during World War I, World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars.

Wisconsin Medal of Honor Recipients - Some history of the Medal of Honor and a listing of Wisconsin recipients.

Wisconsin's Fallen Heroes - A tribute to the Wisconsin soldiers who have given their life in service of their country during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Wisconsin Veterans Memorials Catalog - Search the catalog to find memorials to Wisconsin veterans in the state, nation, or world.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum National History Day Project - Here students and teachers can find possible topic ideas and examples of primary source materials at the museum Resource Center.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Resources for Teachers - Find out about different types of School Group visits to the Research Center, Museum Tours and Travel Trunks, Veterans Memorials and more.

Wisconsin Veterans Oral History Program - The Wisconsin Veterans Oral History Program records the experiences of Wisconsin men and women, combat and non-combat veterans, present and former residents of Wisconsin who served in the military from World War II to the present.

Wisconsin War Stories - Wisconsin Public Television has been an innovative leader in public television as it has told the stories of Wisconsin soldiers through the groundbreaking and award-winning Wisconsin World War II Stories and Wisconsin Korean War Stories documentary projects. There are numerous resources listed along with each project. Their next documentary scheduled to air in 2010 will be Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories.