Veterans Day and Genealogy

Happy Veterans Day! If you, your children, or other living family members have served in the military, we thank you so much for your service. If your parents, grandparents, or any other relatives in the past have served, this day commemorates them as well, and this holiday Monday, we are reminded of their commitment to our country and everything it stands for. Veterans Day, once called Armistice Day, is often confused with Memorial Day. The latter honors our fallen heroes, whereas Veterans Day was created as a way to say thank you and to honor living veterans. It is a fairly new holiday which began early in the twentieth century, when President Woodrow Wilson called on Americans to “remember the armistice,” signed on 11 November 1918, that ended World War I. His intention was to emphasize peace and to honor thousands of men who served in the war.

It wasn’t until twenty years later, in 1938, that Armistice Day was declared a federal holiday. The hope was that this day would be “dedicated to world peace and to be hereafter celebrated . . .” (“Veterans Day, History” see below.) After World War II and the Korean War greatly increased the number of surviving veterans, Congress amended the original act in 1954 and renamed the day with its current title. For a time in the 1970s, the holiday was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October, but this caused so much confusion and disapproval that in 1978, it was returned to its original date and has been celebrated on 11 November ever since.

Veterans Day today has become a day to remember those who served in wartime as well as those who have and continue to serve in times of peace. Although originally intended just for male soldiers, that now has changed, and we recognize all veterans on this day for their contributions not only to the armed forces but to the peace and stability of our country and around the world. We also advocate for veterans on this day, helping to make it possible for them to receive the services they need: affordable housing, decent wages, and support for their mental and physical well-being.

Young men, like Larry Weisberg from Lowell, Massachusetts, are honored on this day for service to their country. Larry survived World War II, came home, married, and raised a large family in New England. (Photo in the collection of Ilene Kanfer Murray, used with permission.)

Veterans Day and Your Genealogy

Do you know if you had ancestors who served in the military? One way you might find out is by looking at some of the twentieth-century population censuses. Did you know:

1. The first census to collect data on veterans was in 1840. This census asked for the names and ages of “Pensioners for Revolutionary or military services, included in the foregoing” [list of enumerated heads of families.] 
2. Fifty years later, in 1890, the census asked about Civil War veterans and widows of those men. (This census is the one that was lost to neglect after a disastrous fire, so most but not all of the actual census is gone. However, a large number of the veterans and widows portion has survived, so it's worth checking, if you think you had ancestors who might have been enumerated.)
3. The 1910 census asked for Civil War survivors.
4. The 1930 census asked for veterans to indicate if they had mobilized for any war and, if so, which war?
5. In 1940, only those who had to fill in the supplementary questions were asked about military service. If a person served, which war, or was the person a wife, widow, or minor child of a veteran?
6. The 1950 census asks for only men to designate whether they served in either World War or “any other time including present service.” Again, only those who had to fill out the sample lines were asked these questions.

Free Workshop This Week in St. Louis

For those in St. Louis, the St. Louis Public Library is hosting a “Military Resources Community Forum,” on Friday 15 November 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Central Library (downtown) in the Carnegie Room on the third floor.

This free event will feature representatives from the National Archives in St. Louis, the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, the Missouri Historical Society, and the St. Louis Public Library. The speakers will share what kinds of military resources are in each of their locations and how the public can access them. No registration is required. Directions and contact information, if you have questions, are on the library’s website at https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/66a94af1897288371b2b0aba.

Additional Resources

“History of Veterans Day,” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, updated 10 June 2024, https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/

“The Origins of Veterans Day, Everything You Need to Know about November 11,” National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2024, https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/origins-veterans-day

“Veterans Day History,” by Tiffini Theisen and Ho Lin, Military.com, originally published 10 November 2021, updated 21 October 1924, https://www.military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day.html#:~:text=Deals%20and%20Discounts-,%20History%20of%20Veterans%20Day,marking%20the%20end%20of%20WWI