Stuhr Funeral Home Reflects on Veterans Day and Burial Options for the Fallen
Every November 11, Americans gather to honor all veterans of war for their patriotism, love of their country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice. In the last several years, to celebrate Veterans’ Day, J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home has invited local fifth-graders to visit the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens cemetery to place flags on veterans’ graves.
Every November 11, Americans gather to honor all veterans of war for their patriotism, love of their country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice. In the last several years, to celebrate Veterans’ Day, J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home has invited local fifth-graders to visit the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens cemetery to place flags on veterans’ graves.
J. Henry Stuhr is proud of its long history of serving veterans’ families with funerals and burials. Stuhr assists families in requesting military honors and funeral benefits. The staff is well-versed in the rules on burial flags, Presidential memorial Certificates, VA funeral benefits and more.
Stuhr offers veterans’ families choices in burials for their loved one. They can choose between being buried in a national cemetery or in a private cemetery. Benefits of having a burial in a national cemetery include having a gravesite in one of the 151 national cemeteries, a Government headstone, burial flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care. Choosing to have a burial in a private cemetery offers similar benefits.
Stuhr offers its sincere appreciation of veterans, active, retired and gone, and provides more facts about Veterans Day you may not have known:
1. The first Veterans Day happened in Alabama
Before it became a national holiday, the first Veterans Day was held in Birmingham on November 11, 1947. The event, called “National Veterans Day,” was organized by WWII veteran Raymond Weeks and featured a variety of festivities, including a parade, to honor all veterans.
2. How did the name get changed?
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was once known as “Armistice Day” and commemorated the end of fighting of World War I in 1918. Originally, Armistice Day was created to recognize just the veterans of the First World War. However, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress decided to replace the word “Armistice” with “Veterans” in the Act of 1938. The change was first proposed by Representative Edward Rees of Kansas and then signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1954.
3. It moved dates in the seventies
In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Bill created three-day weekends for Federal employees by moving four national holidays to always occur on Mondays (Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day). The bill intended to encourage travel, recreation and cultural activities as well as stimulate the economy.
However, this moved caused a lot of confusion as many states continued to celebrate the holidays on the original dates. So, President Ford returned Veterans Day to November 11 starting in 1978.
4. The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day
Although both national holidays are related to the military, Memorial Day, which is observed in May, is meant to remember soldiers who died while in military service. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all veterans – both living and dead – who have served in peacetime and in war.
Stuhr Funeral Home, a trusted name in funeral service for more than 150 years, cares for families of those whose lives have ended. Stuhr Funeral Home is committed to providing quality arrangements to honor loved ones and family traditions. For more information about funeral services available, visit JHenryStuhr.com or call (843) 723-2524.
