|
|
HISTORY OF VETERAN'S 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 all wars.”
 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.
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.
|
|
|
