09-05-2025
CNY vets disagree with POTUS renaming Veterans Day
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Local veterans are speaking out, after President Trump announced he would be renaming Veterans Day as 'Victory Day for World War I.'
'I don't agree on him changing that,' said Dan DiFlorio, a Vietnam veteran.
'I don't believe that it should be done,' said Charles Johnson, a Navy veteran and who retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
'I'm totally against it,' said Richard Madden, a Vietnam veteran.
The president made the announcement just last week.
'I think that's probably the dumbest idea that I've ever heard from that man today. I think it's incredibly insulting to the rest of the veterans in our country,' said Madden.
The federal holiday, which is observed annually on November 11 is a day to honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Veterans Day was initially known as Armistice Day. It was renamed in 1954.
'It's not a victory. It's Veterans Day, and that encompasses all veterans. Whether they were World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, all of them,' said Johnson.
But not all veterans are against the president renaming Veterans Day.
'I don't have a problem with it. Memorial Day was originally to memorialize the veterans of the Civil War, that's largely been forgotten about,' said Reg Ameele, an Air National Guard veteran.
President Trump also says he wants to celebrate May 8 as 'Victory Day for World War II.'
'I don't agree with that. I just don't agree with it. I want to just keep it the way it is, where we all are going to be all one,' said DiFlorio.
The White House is now saying Veterans Day will not be renamed. Instead, it will be an added proclamation, that will go out the same day.
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