Veterans day
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 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 pPresident
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.ossible."all wars.”
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