Memorial Day Vs Veterans Day Meme

Difference Between Veterans Day And Memorial Day

Written by Veteran.com Team

What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? These two holidays both recognize the importance of military service, and they both honor the sacrifices made by active duty, Guard, Reserve troops, and family members. But these two holidays are separate and distinct there are good reasons why both are observed each year.

If You’re Not Sure What The Difference Is Between Memorial Day And Veterans Day You’re Not Alone Here’s What You Need To Know

Every year, two seemingly similar holidays at opposite ends of the calendar celebrate and honor Americans who have served our country. You may know that Memorial Day falls on a Monday at the end of May, creating a nice long weekend to kick off summer , while Veterans Day, on the other hand, falls annually on Nov. 11 and serves an entirely different purpose.

To get into the spirit of gratitude, read up on these Veterans Day quotes from some of the most famous veteransor, better yet, shop one of the best Veterans Day sales of the year. If you or a loved one has served, make sure to visit one of these spots to grab a Veterans Day free meal.

Memorial Day Vs Veterans Day: Here’s The Difference

Do you know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

A few years ago, there was a about a woman getting a haircut before Memorial Day weekend. She had lost her husband in a Navy helicopter crash months prior. He died on deployment, never having met their youngest son. So, when the smiling receptionist wished her a “Happy Memorial Day” after she had buried her spouse, the words cut extra deep.

Before you tag every veteran and service member on Facebook and wish them a Happy Memorial Day, remember that, in this community, Memorial Day means something much, much bigger than the start of summer. The day feels fraught with memories of those we’ve lost, mixed with gratitude for the times we’ve had.

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Happy Veterans Day Meme

Let the thanking begin! Whatever branch of service you have served in. There are currently six branches of United States military service: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.

A funny happy veterans day meme isnt enough to say thank you for the service, years, blood, sweat and tears that service member puts in to keep our country safe.

Dont Let Politics Keep You From Rendering Respect

Even if you dont agree with the idea of war, or the reasons America goes to war, or the policies of a particular president who was the Commander in Chief during a specific war, it doesnt matter. People have defended the people and interests of America for over 200 years, and your right to disagree with the reasons for war should be separate from your opinion of the troops themselves.

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What To Say On Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a day to express gratitude to veterans for their service, so its entirely appropriate to say Thank you for your service or even Happy Veterans Day. Here are some other things you might say to a veteran:

• Thank you for all you do for our country.
• My family and I appreciate your sacrifice and service.
• My family and I are grateful for people like you who serve this country.
• Happy Veterans Day. Thank you.

Keep in mind that not all veterans are comfortable with being thanked for their service, particularly by a stranger. If the veterans reaction to your expression of gratitude isnt what you expected, dont take it personally. And dont let it stop you from sharing your thankfulness and respect for those who have served our nation.

Memorial Day Veterans Day And Armed Forces Day: What’s The Difference

While Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day acknowledge the service and sacrifices of our military members, it’s essential to understand the difference between these important days.

Veterans are often thanked for their service on Memorial Day and during the holiday weekend when we should be honoring our fallen heroes who died in service to our country. Some veterans will politely acknowledge your appreciation and continue with their day. Some will gently remind you that today is not about them. Some may show frustration for your not understanding the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

“As a Marine veteran, while it’s unacceptable to be rude, it is acceptable to correct somebody so that they understand the difference. Veterans are thanked for their service frequently, but for one day every year, we should focus on those who sacrificed everything for this country.” — David Ogden, Marine Veteran

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A Brief History Of Memorial Day And Veterans Day

Memorial Day began as something called Decoration Day in the years following the end of the Civil War in 1865. On May 5, 1868, an organization for Union vets called the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day on May 30.

It was intended as a way to honor soldiers lost in the Civil War, strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land according to the original proclamation by the organizations leader, General John A. Logan.

Enter Armistice Day, Later Known As Veterans Day

Veterans Day has a similar connection in its origin story thanks to World War One, but in the case of Veterans Day, the end of the war was the catalyst for the creation of the holiday rather than a modification of it ala Memorial Day.

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The end of World War One became known as Armistice Day. Hostilities ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour with the signing of the armistice agreement Armistice Day was named in honor of this final moment of the war to end all wars.

Armistice Day would soon give way to Veterans Day via presidential declaration in 1954.

Dont Thank The Current Troops

At least, dont thank them just because its Memorial Day. They deserve respect and gratitude every day of the year, but this day is set aside specifically for Americas fallen warriors from every war.

Americas veterans are honored during November on Veterans Day when we aim to remember and appreciate the sacrifices of all veterans. But, Memorial Day allows the country to focus on those service members who are no longer with us an important distinction.

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How Memorial Day And Veterans Day Originated

• Memorial Day: This holiday was first celebrated a year after the end of the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any other conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the nations first national cemeteries. Until 1971, the holiday was known as Decoration Day in reference to the decoration of graves.
• Veterans Day: The first celebration was on Nov. 11, 1919, to commemorate the end of World War I. Hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Until 1954, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day.

Before You Say People Are Well

Michelle Ganley, Graham Media Group

The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day still seems to trip people up, although it shouldnt.

As a quick refresher, on Memorial Day, we remember those who died while serving our country. Veterans Day is intended to honor the service of all people who have worn armed services uniforms.

So, what do you say on Memorial Day to someone who might be struggling — a widow, a veteran or anyone whos been affected by a military members death? What do you say to someone who served?

The website DiversityInc wrote about this very topic.

This common misconception, that Memorial Day is a time to thank veterans, is not in fact what the holiday is intended for, the site says.

Here are some ideas on what you can say instead. Try something like:

• Enjoy your weekend, but I want you to know that I will be remembering what this holiday is about.
• Enjoy your weekend, and I will be thinking about those who are no longer with us.
• I will be taking a moment this weekend to honor those who served our nation and are no longer with us.”
• NPR simply suggests, I hope youre having a meaningful day.

Those seem preferable to:

• “Thank you for your service.”
• “Happy Memorial Day.”
• “Is this a difficult weekend for you?”
• How many friends did you lose on your deployments?

Before you think this is splitting hairs, consider that what you say matters.

This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.

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Find The Best Veterans Day Meme Right Here

Whether youre a Vet or a civilian who wants to share some funny Veterans Day memes with a Veteran in your life, weve got some hilarious options for you below.

1. A True Happy Veterans Day

Need funny Veterans Day memes to share? This is the perfect starter meme for you! This Veterans Day meme is great for all the SpongeBob fans out there. It expertly combines the serious tone of thanking our Veterans on Veterans Day while also bringing in that perfect meme humor.

2. Video Games

If SpongeBob isnt your style or your Veterans style, heres another funny Veterans Day meme to share. This meme uplifts Veterans and pokes fun at civilians who could never truly understand the harsh realities of real-life combat.

3. Thanks for Serving

Thanks for serving is probably one of the most common phrases said to Veterans on Veterans Day. This meme takes serving to another level.

4. One-Day Celebrity

If youre looking for a funny Veterans Day meme, youre probably gonna see a lot of SpongeBob-themed ones, and for good reason.

Being a Vet on Veterans Day is like being a celebrity. For some, its a total party to be acknowledged by random strangers on the street for others, its a total pain. So put on some sunglasses, channel your inner Squidward, and get ready for the recognition.

5. The VA

6. Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day

7. Is Veterans Day a Public Holiday?

8. The Navy

9. The Military Desk Job

Whats The Difference Between Memorial Day And Veterans Day

rd.com

Both are public holidays in the United States that honor members of the military, and youll likely see many people sharing patriotic quotes on those days, but there are key differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day too. Heres what to know about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Dayand dont forget to read up on the history of Memorial Day poppies and green porch lights too.

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History Of Memorial Day

Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day,” a designated time to decorate the gravestones of many of the roughly 620,000 people killed in the Civil War.

It is unclear when and where this act of commemoration first took place: around 25 communities have been tied to the origin of Memorial Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with one such event reportedly held as far back as October 1864 in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

New York became the first state to designate Decoration Day a legal holiday in 1873, and by 1890, every other former Union state had followed suit. By the conclusion of World War I, the focus shifted from honoring those killed on Civil War battlefields to all men and women who had died while fighting for the United States. In the years that followed, the holiday became more widely known as Memorial Day.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Uniform Holiday Bill, which packaged several federal holidays into the tail end of three-day weekends with the hope of stimulating travel and commerce. As a result, Memorial Day has been celebrated on the fourth Monday of May since 1971. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

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Veterans Day Vs Memorial Day Vs Labor Day 2022

Well, you are not alone if you do not know about Veterans Day vs Memorial Day vs Labor Day, as there are a lot more people like you who do not know the difference. People are often confused these days with each other, so it is quite common. Let us throw the light on this fact and get that what is the major difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

This year there will be many Veterans Day vs Memorial Day memes that will come out to tell people like you that how are Veterans Day and Memorial Day different. You should be prepared for those memes to come, but we want you to know the difference before that.

Let us know more about these days in detail so that you will not be confused about celebrating these days this year.

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Free Veterans Day Images

Here are more Veterans Day images for sharing.

One of my favorite Dallas area organizations that rallies on Veterans Day is Unite for Troops. This organization runs an annual Unite for Troops Veterans Day celebration each year in Irving, TX.

We are fortunate to know the family who put so much time, effort and money into honoring our troops.

If you are in the DFW area and want to join the community in a Veterans Day celebration, here is a local free event where the kids can have fun with games and bounce houses.

Unite for Troops Veterans Day Celebration. on Saturday, November 12th 1-3. This is held at Porters Army Navy at 600 E. Irving Blvd, Irving, TX.

Supplies will be collected to pack boxes for soldiers who are currently serving. Please bring requested items: letters, non-breakable Christmas ornaments, toiletries, snacks, socks, batteries, pocket warmers. See the Facebook page for a list of items requested to send to soldiers for the holidays.

Veterans Day Animal Memes

If youre like the millions of other people that love animal memes, weve got you covered. Here are some hilarious Veterans Day animal memes for you, with a good mix of some Veterans Day dog memes and cat memes.

10. German Shepherd

If you come from a long lineage of war Veterans, this Veterans Day meme is the meme for you.

11. Profile Pic

This one is a great reminder for all Veterans to change their profile pictures so people will thank them. If you have a picture of you looking as confused as this dog here, even better!

12. Armistice Day

For all the Veterans out there who are also history buffs, this pic is perfect for you. This Veterans Day meme can be a great one to share with your friends so you can flex your Veterans Day knowledge on them, as well as your Veteran status.

13. Veterinarian

We havent forgotten all the cat people! This pensive-looking cat meme is a great reminder for all of us that being a Vet is not the same as being a Vet . Make sure to show this one to all the kids who are just now learning this.

Veterans Day can be an enjoyable holiday for many. With the parades and the recognition given to our Veterans, Veterans Day is an awesome day! And with a cool Veterans Day meme or two sprinkled in there, this holiday can be filled with laughs for all, Veterans and civilians alike.

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How To Honor Veterans Day And Memorial Day

On Memorial Day you can honor the fallen by attending memorial services within your community, laying flowers and planting flags on graves at your local Veterans cemetery, educate the children about the importance of this day or observe the the moment of silence at 3 pm on Memorial Day.

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Veterans Day is an opportunity to do the same, but it is also an appropriate time to show your appreciation to veteran friends and family via social media or in person. You can also fly the American flag outside your home, visiting or volunteering at a Veteran facility, attending a local event, and by thanking veterans and their families for their service.

The Difference Between Memorial Day And Veterans Day

Memorial Day is observed every year on the last Monday in May. It honors and remembers those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11. It honors all veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Lets look at both holidays more closely.

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The Best Veterans Day Memes For 2022

Sometimes people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all US military veterans who have served, and Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service. Armed Forces Day honors those who currently serve.

Why do we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th? We celebrate Veterans Day on 11/11 because at the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the fighting ended with the signing of an armistice.

We are grateful to those who provide our freedom in the United States and these Veterans Day memes help respectfully thank a veteran.