On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill to “provide for uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” Instead of Washington’s birthday being celebrated on Feb. 22, Memorial Day on May 30, and Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the act set observances of them to be the third Monday in February, last Monday in May, and the fourth Monday in October, respectively (the newly established Columbus Day holiday was also included in this Monday law). By making them three-day weekends, Congress believed it increased the opportunities for families separated by distance to be together and to enjoy recreational activities.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was celebrated on Oct. 25, 1971, under much confusion. Most states chose to observe Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and it quickly became apparent that Nov. 11 held transcendent significance for a majority of citizens. On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed into law a bill that restored observance of Veterans Day to Nov. 11.

The many public ceremonies held on Veterans Day are important. But for those who served and members of their families the day becomes personal, even private. James R. Lawson, a bar/restaurant owner from Manalapan, New Jersey, whose father served in the Army and fought in Vietnam, said that because of his father, Veterans Day always meant a lot. Then his son James F. Lawson enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2010, and after two years training in the Navy nuclear program was accepted at Annapolis, class of 2016. Lawson said his pride for his son is tempered with “concern knowing Jimmy could be going into harm’s way.” And of Veterans Day itself, Lawson said, “My attitude definitely changed in a drastic and more meaningful way.”

George Ryan, a retired printer from The New York Times, entered the Army in 1966 and was honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of sergeant. He fought at Hue during the Tet Offensive and his decorations include the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. “Veterans Day is very personal,” he said. “I tend to be by myself. I retreat into a place where I think about the people I served with and who never came back. And I shed tears for them. It’s an attitude that hasn’t changed over the years.”

Mike Wickes of Brooklyn, New York, enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1963 and was honorably discharged in 1969 with the rank of staff sergeant. During his service overseas he was attached to a Naval Security Group unit in Europe. Veterans Day reminds him of those years when he wore the Marine uniform. Recalling that period, he said, “Some of my best friendships were formed in the Marine Corps.” He added that the bond is so deep that the only way to truly understand its depth is “to be in the service. I admire and respect all veterans.”

Donna McAleer (West Point, 1987) is the Democratic candidate for Congress in Utah’s 1st Congressional District. She was stationed in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union and served as an executive officer and later platoon leader. She was honorably discharged in 1991 with the rank of first lieutenant and remained in the Army Reserve until 2000. Prior to her service she said there was no standout memory when it came to Veterans Day. “Now,” she said, “Veterans Day is much more reflective for me. This day reminds us how important it is that the men and women who wear this country’s uniform know just how grateful their fellow Americans are for their service. Veterans come from all walks of life: They are parents, children, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They are friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They are an important part of our communities.”

This article first appeared in The Year in Veterans Affairs & Military Medicine, 2014-2015 Edition.