Did You Know?
Facts & Figures About
America’s Veterans Day
Nov 07 : 04 days till Veterans Day

Did you know that Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans?

Veterans Day is both a federal holiday as well as a state holiday in all 50 states, and is usually observed on November 11th.

However, in years where November 11th occurs on a Sunday the following Monday is designated as the holiday. If Veterans Day occurs on a Saturday then either the Saturday or Friday may be designated.

Veterans Day is the day that America pays tribute to its military veterans. Also known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, Veterans Day is usually observed November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of WWI formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.) Join us as we present a new “Did You Know?” fact each day as we countdown to the Veterans Day (November 11th)!

Sources: US Census Bureau / Wikipedia

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The White House has released the Presidential for Veterans Day, 2009

Veterans Day, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.

 

Full text of Veterans Day 2009 Presidential Proclamation

Its November 1st and the Holidays are fast approaching. So fast in fact the malls and stores have been showing signs of the Holiday Season! And we only celebrated Halloween yesterday!

November begins with Los Dias De Los Muertos, or Days of the Dead (Nov. 01-02). This import from Mexico and South America celebrates family and friends who have passed. Unlike the sorrow and sadness of the US culture of death, Los Dias De Los Muertos is a happy and jubilant time to remember and honor your loved ones. And there’s lots of smiling skeletons too!

Of course the biggest holiday in November is Thanksgiving (US). Celebrated on the 26th , there’s really only 4 weeks to get everything ready! In need of Turkey and stuffing recipes anyone?

And who can forget Black Friday and the beginning of the Christmas season? So start saving up those pennies because it feels like its going to be a quick month!

Here’s some fun facts about November…

Month of year: 11th
Days: 30
Birthstone: Topaz
Flower: Chrysanthemum
Season: Fall
Horoscope: Scorpio, Sagittarius
History:
Originally the ninth month of the Roman calendar, November was named for novem – the number nine
Important Observances:
US General Election Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday*

*source: Daily Holidays on the Net

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Birthday
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947) is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving within the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she served as First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. In the 2008 election Clinton was a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

A native of Illinois, Hillary Rodham attracted national attention in 1969 for her remarks as the first student commencement speaker at Wellesley College. She embarked on a career in law after graduating from Yale Law School in 1973. Following a stint as a Congressional legal counsel, she moved to Arkansas in 1974 and married Bill Clinton in 1975. Rodham co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977, and became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978. Named the first female partner at Rose Law Firm in 1979, she was twice listed as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America. First Lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992 with husband Bill as Governor, she successfully led a task force to reform Arkansas’s education system.

In 1994 as First Lady of the United States, her major initiative, the Clinton health care plan, failed to gain approval from the U.S. Congress. However, in 1997 and 1999, Clinton played a role in advocating the establishment of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act.

After moving to the state of New York, Clinton was elected as a U.S. Senator in 2000. That election marked the first time an American First Lady had run for public office; Clinton was also the first female senator to represent the state. In the Senate, she initially supported the Bush administration on some foreign policy issues, including a vote for the Iraq War Resolution. She subsequently opposed the administration on its conduct of the war in Iraq and on most domestic issues. Senator Clinton was re-elected by a wide margin in 2006.
In the 2008 presidential nomination race, Hillary Clinton won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history, but narrowly lost to Senator Barack Obama. As Secretary of State, Clinton became the first former First Lady to serve in a president’s cabinet.

Happy Birthday Hillary!!

source: Wikipedia: Hillary Clinton

Columbus Day (US)

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Celebrating Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas (the New World).

In 1492 Columbus left Spain with three ships – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria – looking to find an alternative route to India. After sighting land, his fleet eventually landed on what is now know as the Bahamas.

Observed as a national holiday in the US and by Italian-Americans as a celebration of their culture and heritage.

The discovery of the Americas is also celebrated in different countries. Known as Di­a de la Raza (Day of the Race) in many Latin American countries, as Di­a de las Culturas (Day of the Cultures) in Costa Rica, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, Di­a de la Hispanidad in Spain, and Dia de la Resistencia Indi­gena (Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela.*

*source: wikipedia – Columbus Day