Buy a Poppy: Five Things to Know About Veterans Day

You Need To Know The Business of Vets: Veterans owned 3 million—14.5 percent—of the 20.5 million businesses the Census Bureau surveyed in 2002.

You Need To Know It's Not Armistice Anymore: In 1954, Congress changed the Armistice Day holiday to Veterans Day to honor those who served in World War II and the Korean War...and all wars after that.

You Need To Know Their Ranks Are Growing: According to the United States Census 2002 reports, there are 26.4 million veterans in the U.S., about one out of every eight U.S. civilians over 18.

You Need To Know It Wasn't Always Today: From 1971 to 1978, Veteran's Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October, by law—but not by practice. Despite the Monday Holiday Law, 46 states continued to observe the holiday on Nov. 11.

You Need To Know About Poppies: If you've ever been approached by a vet asking you to buy a poppy, you may have wonedered why poppies. The tradition comes from John McCrae's poem, "In Flanders Fields," written by  in 1915 ("In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row"). In 1918 Moina Belle Michael, on reading McCrae's poem, pledged to always wear a red poppy as a sign of remembrance—and the Veterans of Foreign Wars began the "Buddy Poppy" program to help disabled and needy veterans in 1924. We hope you bought a bouquet.

And how can you celebrate Veteran's Day today? Here are some ideas:

Click here for a list of volunteer needs at the VA Hospital in Lyons. Veteran's Day is one day, but many veterans need your help 365 days each year.

Donate to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Stop by the township's veterans memorial at the municipal complex for a few moments today, leave flowers or a note expressing your appreciation.