Every year, Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on January 14. The fourth Army Forces Veteran Day, 2020 is to be celebrated at National War Memorial, New Delhi where wreaths will be laid by CISC, serving three star officers as well as veteran officers and JCOs from all three services. Chief of Army, Chief of Navy and Chief of Air Force will be present in the function.

Armed Forces Veterans Day is also being celebrated at seven other Command Heaquarters of Army, Navy and IAF. Hon’ble Raksha Mantri will preside over the event at Jaipur and Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri at Mumbai. The day is being celebrated since 2017. It was initially called Armistice Day.

Background

The day began its journey as Armistice Day in order to reflect upon bravery of those who died in country’s service. Armistice Day is celebrated on November 11 all over the world. The first Armistice Day was celebrated on November 11, 1919 marking the anniversary of the end of World War I and celebrating the brave soldiers who were part of World War I. However, in India the day was first marked through a resolution passed by the Congress in 1926.

Why November 11?

The Armistice Day was commemorated on November 11 to mark the armistice that was signed between Allies of World War I and Germany.

Veterans Day

In 1954, the Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor the living legends of all wars. Unlike Memorial Day, on Armistice Day, the world pays tribute to living veterans who were part of the war.

Why January 14?

Every year, January 14 is marked as Armed Forced Veteran Day as the Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-chief of Indian Armed Forces retired on the day.

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