The annual Veterans Day parade in downtown Rapid City started at 11 a.m. Some Americans don’t know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov. 11. It’s important that Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our current and former service members properly.

World War I, also known as the First World War, was a global centered in the European Continent. It began on July 28, 1914 and lasted until Nov. 11, 1918. The Federal Holiday was originally known as Armistice Day, to honor the end of World War I. This new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, U.S. Congress at the urging of the Veterans Service Organizations, with the approval of legislation in 1954, officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Most Americans don’t realize the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military, in wartime or peacetime.

As a Desert Storm Disabled Veteran, for myself and all my country men and women, I would like to thank all the businesses and citizen’s for their support every day. This is the land of the free, because of the brave.