Veterans Day 2022 – Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Veterans Day 2022 is fast approaching, and if you're not too familiar with the holiday, or you're wondering what to do for the occasion, then Trip.com is here to help.

American men and women have a distinguished history of military service and sacrifice, and this is an important date to give recognition to that. You'll find there are many interesting traditions associated with Veterans Day 2022, and a whole host of related activities.

Keep reading to find out what they are!

Graves of fallen veterans at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Source: Chad Madden / unsplash

Date of Veterans Day 2022

Veterans Day is a US federal holiday observed annually on 11^th Nov, no matter which day of the week it falls on. For Veterans Day 2022, this will be a Friday.

11^th Nov is a date that coincides with commemoration of the end of World War 1 in many other countries, often known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. The armistice with Germany at the end of that war came into effect on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month, so this is a time and date that has a deep significance.

Because Veterans Day 2022 is a federal holiday, so that means all federal workers as well as members of the military will have the day off, including many state workers as well. Private companies will choose whether to give their staff the day off – usually it is either Veterans Day or Columbus Day that is given as a holiday.

Many schools will close on Veterans Day 2022 as well, but it's ultimately up to the local school board as to which holidays are taken off.

The full history of Veterans Day 2022 will be introduced below…

Veterans Day being celebrated with a parade in New York City. Source: Jeremy Bezanger / unsplash

Origins and History of Veterans Day

In the States, the commemoration of Armistice Day began as a simple affair. In 1919, when Woodrow Wilson pronounced the celebration of the date, it was conceived of as a brief interruption of business at 11:00, along with some parades and public meetings.

By 1926, the day had been recognized as a public holiday by 27 states. In the next decade, immediately prior to World War 2, it was declared a federal holiday – dedicated, ironically, to the cause of world peace.

Armistice Day was of course originally intended as recognition of the sacrifice made by soldiers in World War 1. After the continued mobilization of soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen – first in World War 2, and then in Korea – the name of the day was changed to Veterans Day.

In this way, in 1954 under President Eisenhower, Armistice Day became Veterans Day – a day to commemorate the service and sacrifice of all American veterans.

But the holiday hasn't always remained on the 11^th Nov! For a period of time it was moved to the fourth Monday in October, in an attempt to make public holidays uniform across each state.

This caused much confusion, however, with many people still attaching significance to the original date. Many states simply chose to ignore the new ruling – there was a patriotic meaning and an international aspect to the original date. For this reason, it was only celebrated in October between 1971 and 1978 – at which point it was returned to November.

Another thing that has cause a lot of confusion about Veterans Day 2022 is the spelling – many believe it to be "Veteran's Day" or "Veterans' Day". But in fact, it is incorrect to use the apostrophe. The day is not belonging to veterans, but rather, in honor of them.

A phone call to the trenches during World War 1. Source: New York Public Library / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 Traditions and Activities

There are a great many things to do across the nation to properly commemorate Veterans Day 2022. You can begin close to home – give thanks to the veterans in your family, spend time with them, listen to their stories, and do something nice for them!

There may be veterans or veteran associations in your community that need a helping hand. That could be doing yardwork, delivering meals, or offering them a ride somewhere.

There are also veterans hospitals that may need volunteers, and, of course, there are great veterans charities that are in need of donations.

On top of that, there are so many places to visit that can educate us on the sacrifice that veterans have made over the history of the United States. From the War of Independence and the Civil War, to the wars of the 21^st century in Afghanistan and Iraq, Veterans Day 2022 is the appropriate time to learn about and remember fallen veterans as well as the living.

A veteran salutes. Source: Sydney Rae / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – Shiloh National Military Park

You can also take the opportunity on Veterans Day 2022 to visit a local battlefield, for example. A great place to learn about the service of American veterans in the Civil War is Shiloh National Military Park. This park preserves the location of the Battle of Shiloh, which took place in 1862.

This was a battle in which nearly 110,000 American troops clashed in conflict, and has been preserved as a monument to this day. On site, you'll find museums and interpretive tours, films and ranger programs. The park is open from 08:00 to 17:00 daily, and special events are held throughout the year.

Taken at the Shiloh National Military Park. Source: The Silverdalex / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

After that, on Veterans Day 2022 you can see where it all came to an end at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. This is where Confederate General in Chief Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia engaged Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army of the Potomac for the very last time.

Of course, it was to end in defeat for Lee, who failed to break through heavily reinforced Union troops. The 2 men met in the McLean House, preserved now as part of the park, to discuss the terms of Lee's surrender.

They hadn't seen each other face-to-face for almost two decades, when they had fought side by side in the Mexican-American War. They shared their memories of being comrades in arms, before turning their conversation to the matter at hand.

You can bring this dramatic history back to life in Appomattox County, Virginia, this Veterans Day 2022. The park is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, although due to staffing issues in the post-COVID world, they are running reduced services on Sundays and Mondays.

If you're seeking a look around the historic McLean House, you'll find it open during these hours in the warm season. In the cold season, you'll be able to join regular guided tours to the house throughout the day.

Veterans Day 2022 – The Battle of Little Bighorn

The Indian Wars are one of the great tragedies of American history. At the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, visitors are given the opportunity reflect and remember the senseless deaths of Americans on both sides of the conflict.

Located on the Crow Indian Reservation, the monument marks the great defeat for the 7^th Cavalry Regiment of the US Army – known as General Custer's Last Stand – against overwhelming attack from the combined forces of the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho.

Taking place during the Great Sioux War of 1876, among those arrayed against Custer and his troops was the famed Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse. At the monument today you will find markers showing precisely where combatants on both sides fell in the battle.

Visits to battlefields of the India Wars can be an emotional reminder of the senseless violence that under-girds so much of our history. While we honor those who dedicated – and often sacrificed – their lives in combat, on Veterans Day 2022 we can also reflect on how wasteful and inhuman war can be.

Sculptures of Indian riders at Little Bighorn. Source: Karen Martinez / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

In Alabama, you can visit the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The Tuskegee Airmen, whom the park commemorates, were a group of African-American aviators who fought successful battles in World War 2. At the same time, they had to battle racial discrimination at home.

There are 2 museums on site, located in the original hangars. In Hangar #1 Museum, you'll find a video introduction to the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as 2 authentic World War 2 training aircraft, and a recreation of the sights and sounds of the training ground in its prime.

In Hangar #2 Museum you'll experience the award-winning half-hour movie depicting the struggles the Tuskegee Airmen faced in being seen as more than second-class citizens. Racial discrimination, segregation, and Jim Crow laws were still widespread, and the contribution these men made was not immediately recognized.

Outside the museums, there are also some beautiful spots for a picnic and some great views to enjoy on Veterans Day 2022.

Authentic WW1 aircraft at Tuskegee Airmen Historic Site. Source: Daniel Reyes / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC honors the veterans who served in the Korean War, which took place between 1950 and 1953. The memorial itself was dedicated in 1995, and features a wall of remembrance as well as 19 stainless steel statues. It's open 24 hours a day and is especially pleasant in the early evening and the morning – ideal for Veterans Day 2022.

You'll find the Korean War Veterans Memorial in South Potomac Park, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and south of the Reflecting Pool. The mural wall is constructed from over 100 tons of Californian granite, and has been sandblasted with photographic images of the troops who fought in the war.

The statues in the triangular garden are larger-than-life representations of a platoon of troops – 14 from the US Army, 3 from the Marine Corps, 1 Navy Corpsman, and 1 Air Force Forward Air Observer. There is also a beautiful Pool of Remembrance – a shallow pool lined with granite and encircled by lines of linden trees.

The leader of the platoon at the Korean War Memorial in DC. Source: Ian Hutchinson / unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington

One of the most moving monuments to fallen veterans is the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier, in Arlington, Virginia. This is a monument that pays tribute to all of the nameless soldiers who have given their lives for America.

The tomb is a white marble sarcophagus, beneath which lie buried the remains of soldiers who died in World Wars 1 and 2, in Korea, and in Vietnam, whose remains could not be identified. Laying a wreath at the tomb has become a popular way of remembering the sacrifices that all veterans have made throughout history.

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, the site of the monument is particularly special. Also special is the meticulous way in which the tomb is guarded. Guards of the tomb must go through a rigorous selection process, and their daily routine is very specific.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA. Source: J Amill Santiago/ unsplash

Veterans Day 2022 – War in the Pacific National Historical Park

Take a trip a little further afield on Veterans Day 2022 and you can visit one of the outlying territories of the United States, Guam. There you'll find a fascinating monument to the history of World War 2 in the Pacific.

Guam was captured by the Japanese during the war, and occupied for 4 years before being liberated by the Americans in 1944. Located on the west coast of the island, the Warr in the Pacific National Historical Park contains former battlefields, gun emplacements, and trenches, as well as caves and other historic structures.

It's a fascinating insight into the far-flung corners of the world that veterans defended during the course of World War 2, and a must-see if you're planning a visit to the island for Veterans Day 2022.

The visitor center is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between 09:00 and 16:00, and Asan Beach is also open for recreation. You can get to Guam via flights from Honolulu in Hawaii, or via Tokyo.

Battlements on the US island of Guam.

Veterans Day Quotes

Over the years, some of America's greatest figures have expressed subtle and profound thoughts on the meaning of Veterans Day. Such quotes are worthwhile contemplating, this Veterans Day 2022 – they remind us why veterans do make such a sacrifice, and why it is so important to honor them.

John F. Kennedy, the much-loved American president who was tragically assassinated in Dallas in 1963, described how paying tribute should influence how we live our own lives, too. He said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

JFK said these words at Arlington Cemetery – home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, introduced above. It was his very last Veterans Day. While he visited the Tomb, he is reputed to have said: "This is one of the really beautiful places on earth. I could stay here forever." A very touching sentiment.

President John F. Kennedy in Texas, 1961. Source: History in HD / unsplash

Another American president, Herbert Hoover, spoke similarly moving words for the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington.

At Valley Forge, where Washington's Revolutionary Army suffered bitter hardship while they were encamped in 1777, Hoover descried their sacrifice very simply and purely: "Here men endured that a nation might live."

This period of time for George Washington and his army have long since passed into American legend. Up to 2,000 soldiers died from malnutrition and disease during their retreat from Philadelphia. Smallpox, scabies, dysentery, typhoid, and body lice spread throughout the troops.

Nevertheless, by 1781, the British themselves were on the retreat. The Americans had – with a little help from the French – endured. This is the spirit we will pay tribute to on Veterans Day 2022.

A portrait of George Washington. Source: Library of Congress / unsplash

A man who knew a thing or two about enduring was General Douglas MacArthur. Having risen from West Point through the ranks of the US Army, ultimately becoming one of only 5 men to be named General of the Army, MacArthur saw a great deal of combat.

In one of his final speeches – appropriately back at his beloved West Point military academy – he summed up his experience within the following words. "Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."

Just like the words of JFK, MacArthur's description of the importance of duty, honor, and country remind us of our own responsibilities. It is not just a matter of giving thanks to the veterans for their service – this is a time when we should reflect on how we all can better live our lives with the guidance of their model.

As the world around us becomes increasingly fast-paced and confusing, the experience of those who saw such suffering and endured such hardship should be a light in the darkness on Veterans Day 2022.

Veterans Day – a day to be thankful and proud of being American. Source: Samuel Branch / unsplash

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