According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the “first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947.  Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized “National Veterans Day,” which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans.”  Originally called “Armistice Day,” it began as a celebration of the allied forces’ victory during World War I.  It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.  Did you know that there is no apostrophe in “Veterans Day”?  This is to suggest that the day doesn’t belong to veterans, but honors their service.  While Memorial Day specifically recognizes military servicepeople who died while serving, Veterans Day is dedicated to veterans of all wars.

During World War II, the military faced a shortage of available men, and the services began accepting women who served in all branches of the military except the Air Force.  In June 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act allowing women to serve in all branches of the service.  Prior to and during World War II, women also provided medical care to soldiers.

If you’re looking for a great story about these veterans, soldiers, and war nurses, check out our newest display.  You’ll find a huge range of options, from female centered books like “The Librarian Spy” by Madeline Martin and “Sisters In Arms” by Kaia Alderson.  There are classics like “Catch 22” by Joseph Heller and “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway.  One of my modern favorites is “Matterhorn” by Karl Marlantes.  Don’t let the length of this book intimidate you: the plot will draw you in and keep you reading until you’ve finished.  “Matterhorn” tells the story of Waino Mellas, a young Marine lieutenant, and his fellow Marines in Bravo Company who are dropped into the mountains of Vietnam.  They are fighting both the North Vietnamese and the horrors of the jungle: monsoon rain, mud, animals, disease, lack of food, and the tension within the group itself.  The book culminates in a battle that changes the Marines forever.  I read the book when it was released in 2010 and remember both the epic combat scenes and the havoc that mud creates for these men as they traverse the country.  “Matterhorn” is an excellent choice for a historical fiction novel set in the Vietnam War.

You’ll find these books and many others in our Veterans Day display area.  You can also find links to the books featured here: