KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Monday is Veterans Day, and there will be several ceremonies throughout the metro to honor those who have fought — and still fight — for our freedom. One of the biggest ceremonies will be held at the World War I Museum.
Veteran’s Day actually started right after World War I ended. Fighting on the Western Front stopped on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. And because of that, President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 declared November 11 Armistice Day. In 1938, it became a federal holiday and in 1954, President Dwight D, Eisenhower changed the name from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day.
Each year, the World War I Museum hosts a ceremony inside the JC Nichols Auditorium to honor vets and recognize the courage they faced on the front lines of war.
Also, the pubic can visit the museum for free on Veterans Day and check out the first-class exhibits. Some say the World War I museum is a hidden gem in Kansas City, a place where everyone can better appreciate the men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms .
“To not forget what happened. History helps us learn lessons so that we don’t repeat mistakes of the past,” Matthew Naylor, President/CEO National World War I Museum, said. “Also that we can repeat those things that really did bring about important changes, so that’s part of our mission.”
The public ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Monday morning. And at 11, they’ll have military police dogs from Leavenworth.
To get more information, visit theworldwar.org. You can also honor vets on Twitter today with the hashtag #honoringvets.