Veterans Day 2013: 5 Poems To Honor The Military For Their Service

Originally celebrated as 'Armistice Day,' after United States President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed the day a holiday on November 11, 1919, 'Veterans Day' has become one of the most honorable and celebrated holidays in the United States. Thanks to the acts of President Wilson, the holiday has blossomed into a truly important day, as Americans continue to show gratitude to their troops each and every year. "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," President Wilson said one year after hostilities experienced in World War I came to an end. "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."

Though November 11 was officially declared a federal holiday in 1921 to honor those who actively served in World War I, this sacred date in the United States did not officially recognize American veterans of all wars until June 1, 1954. Four months after making that significant and rightful change, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first ever Veterans Day proclamation and the date has remained unchanged since.

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.

As we continue to honor this great day in United States history, here's a list of the Top 5 poems that certainly add to the honor Veterans Day brings on a yearly basis.

1. Walt Whitman, 'Leaves of Grass'

I saw battle-corpses, myriads of them,

And the white skeletons of young men-I saw them;

I saw the debris and debris of all the dead soldiers of the war;

But I saw they were not as was thought;

They themselves were fully at rest-they suffer'd not;

The living remain'd and suffer'd-the mother suffer'd,

And the wife and the child, and the musing comrade suffer'd,

And the armies that remain'd suffer'd.

2. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,