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History of Veterans Day
(from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
World
War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when
the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of
Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting
ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation
of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect
on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For
that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of
“the war to end all wars.”
Soldiers
of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait
for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on
November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I
went into effect
In November 1919,
President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of
Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the
reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the
heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude
for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us
and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her
sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
The
original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with
parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning
at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially
recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent
resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas
the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most
destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the
resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations
with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas
it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be
commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to
perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between
nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of
twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a
legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to
display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on
November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the
day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with
appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An
Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made
the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be
dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated
and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set
aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II
had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines
and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought
aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans
service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word
"Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the
approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November
11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the
first "Veterans Day Proclamation"
which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of
this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the
entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward
this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as
Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such
other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at
the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also
requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive
branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way
possible."
President
Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T.
Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts
On that same day, President Eisenhower sent
a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In
1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954
designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day
National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since
March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.
The
Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on
June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for
Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays:
Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It
was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel,
recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial
and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision
and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The
first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion
on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of
this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great
number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President
Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned
the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November
11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the
overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service
organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day
continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the
week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans
Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of
the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of
Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their
patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for
the common good.
If you see a veteran, take a minute to thank him for his service, and for his helping preserve our freedom.
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