Honoring Veterans Day

Kimberly Bradley • November 11, 2024

As we take the day off, let's remember the "why" of how Veteran's Day was established.

Veteran's Day was originally Armistice Day, and was established in 1941 after the end of World War I. Armistice is an agreement by opposite sides in a war to stop fighting or call a truce. The Armistice was signed by France, US, Germany, and other allies in a railway car in France at 5AM on November 11, 1941. Afterwards, our President, Woodrow Wilson, declared that the day would be set aside to honor those men and women that served the War to End All Wars.

In 1938, it was made into an official US Holiday, although it was still largely to honor the military that had served in WWI. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the change to Veteran's Day to officially recognized all American veterans, regardless of when or where they had served. The purpose was to honor all U.S. veterans, living and deceased, from all conflicts.

There are several ways we celebrate this Federal Holiday including parades and community events. It is understood that all American flags be flown at half mast for the day.

The offical ceremony is always held at Arlighton National Cemetary at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

At A-1 American Services, Inc. we hve several Veteran's on staff and we are a Veteran owned company. We honor all of our Veteran's on this day.

God Bless America!!!

A-1 American is looking for an office worker, a Boiler Service Specialist and a Commercial Sales Specialist! Contact the phone number below for more information.

Call A-1 today to schedule your Fall maintenance for HVAC and get ahead of the Winter curve! A-1 American's, Meg Savell, talked to WTKR about why it's so important to be prepared.

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Happy Labor Day weekend graphic with tools and American flag.

Happy Labor Day from A-1 American Services!

September 1, 2025

First, a little background on Labor Day and how it came to play into American history. Labor Day is celebrated to honor the contributions and achievements of American workers and the labor movement. It recognizes the role of workers in building the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country. The Holiday began in the late 19th century, during a time when working conditions were often harsh—long hours, unsafe workplaces, and little time off were common. Labor unions pushed for better conditions, fair wages, and reasonable workdays. The first Labor Day parade took place in New York City in 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union. In 1894, after years of growing support and following major labor strikes, Congress officially made Labor Day a federal holiday. It’s observed on the first Monday in September, serving both as a tribute to workers and as a symbolic “end of summer” celebration. Not to be confused with International Workers’ Day which is celebrated May 1st worldwide and focuses more on activism and workers’ rights, Labor Day focuses more as a tribute to workers with family time, picnics, parades, and community events like our concer series at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Hampton Roads -- which encompasses the Penninsula (Williamsburg, Newport News, and Hampton) AND South Side (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk) has always been a working community, from the shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding, to the longshoremen at the Port of Virginia, to the military and civil service workers who keep our bases running. Labor Day really ties into that history because it’s a reminder of how much the region’s workforce has shaped the local economy and even national security. For many families here, Labor Day is also (for the lucky) the last long weekend before school starts, so you’ll see people heading to the beach at Virginia Beach, picnicking at local parks, or attending community events. It’s both a recognition of hard work and a chance for people in Hampton Roads to pause, recharge, and enjoy the fruits of their labor before the busy fall season kicks in. From the A-1 American Services family to yours... Please have a safe and happy Labor Day!! And if you find you need help with any clogs, water heater leaks, HVAC hiccups, clooged toilets our guys are standing by ready to help you and your family at a moments notice!