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12 striking photos of soldiers and civilians commemorating Veterans Day

Ben BrimelowNov 11, 2017, 18:35 IST

U.S soldiers stand silent and bow their heads during a ceremony marking Veterans Day at the U.S main air base in Bagram, northern part of Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, 2006.Associated Press

Veterans Day is a holiday where Americans celebrate and honor those who have served.

The holiday originally started as a day to remember the sacrifices of American troops during WWI. Originally called "Armistice Day," it was first observed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, making this year the 99th occasion.

In 1954, Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower passed a bill that made the holiday official. The name "Armistice Day" was changed to "Veterans Day" to honor all veterans from all of America's wars.

"Our veterans are our heroes," President Donald Trump said in a statement earlier this month, proclaiming November as National Veterans and Military Families Month. "Our Armed Forces have preserved the security and freedom that allow us to flourish as a Nation."

These photos show the way veteran, active duty soldiers, and civilians celebrate Veterans Day: