As you may know, the library is closed today in honor of Veterans Day. Unlike Labor Day, Columbus Day, President's Day, and Memorial Day, this holiday is generally observed on the same date--November 11--each year. (Yes, I know today is November 12. Because yesterday was Sunday, we are recognizing Veterans' Day today.) The holiday was first observed 1919, one year after the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I, then known as "The Great War." Armistice Day became a legal holiday in 1938 and was dedicated to the veterans of World War I specifically. After many Americans sacrificed their lives in World War II and Korea, Congress amended the act by replacing the word "Armistice" with "Veterans." On June 1, 1954, the approval of Public Law 380 made November 11 a day to honor all American veterans.*

The library has a plethora of books about the various wars in which Americans have fought. But, if you want to read specifically about the experiences of veterans, rather than war strategy or political maneuvering, I recommend two in particular: Forever a soldier : unforgettable stories of wartime service and Voices of war : stories of service from the home front and the front lines. Both books were published as part of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and recount oral histories from veterans who fought in wars from World War I to Iraq. The stories in these books are memoirs, recorded and written after the wars ended. Two additional books, War letters : extraordinary correspondence from American wars and Behind the lines : powerful and revealing American and foreign war letters--and one man's search to find them, are collections of letters written by soldiers. They provide a unique perspective, as the letters were written during the wars, capturing the thoughts of people while they were experiencing the battles and their aftermath.

*Source: "History of Veterans Day." United States Department of Veterans Affairs http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp (accessed November 9, 2007).

If you want to learn more about the Veterans Day holiday, you can take a look at the US Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day homepage. For demographic information, the US Census Bureau has a Facts for Features page about Veterans Day.