Or Armistice Day, Remembrance Day depending on what country you are in…
To all those who’ve served, THANK YOU!!!
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said
“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 United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. A Congressional 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’.”
In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. Weeks led a delegation to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who supported the idea of National Veterans Day. Weeks led the first national celebration in 1947 in Alabama and annually until his death in 1985. President Reagan honored Weeks at the White House with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the driving force for the national holiday. Elizabeth Dole, who prepared the briefing for President Reagan, determined Weeks as the “Father of Veterans Day.”
U.S. Representative Ed Rees from Emporia, Kansas, presented a bill establishing the holiday through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower, also from Kansas, signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954.
Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
Whether the current administration likes it or not!!!
Surprised the criminals in power haven’t gotten this holiday shit canned. They hate all holidays that commemorate America’s greatness. They want to denigrate our military, not honor it.
For those of you who chose to serve our country – my sincere thanks for your sacrifices.
And veteran status was given to Confederates, and Confederate memorials and gravesites were given federal protection by Congress.
Wish more people would have remembered this over the last 20 years.
Dan- Not for lack of trying…
jrg- Thank you!
Beans- Funny how ‘that’ has been forgotten…
A wonderful historical tribute to all those who have served this great country in any military branch. I for one am proud of my ancestors who served, as well as my five brothers who served in three different branches of the military. God bless America, the land we love!
Cynthia- Thank you!
Well, I WAS facing the draft……
That is how I joined the Navy to doge the draft.
Still ended up in nam. Lucky to get out of there with my whole body.
Some did not.
Heltau