Whether For or Against War - Take a Moment
November 11, 2008
Today is Veteran's Day, a Federal Holiday. Based on my scanning of four newspapers this morning, it has become lost in the plethora of current news. I had a difficult time finding any mention of it - not even the tradition of the President placing a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
Here is a refresher on the history of this holiday. In 1919, President Wilson proclaims the first 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 this country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because the thing from which it 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 of the celebration was the cessation of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M. The reason for selecting the date of November 11th the armistice ending World War I was signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November 1918.
In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran;s Day.
Legislation was passed in 1968, changing the holiday to the fourth Monday of October with the date change to begin in 1971. From 1971 until 1975 this was the date of the Federal Holiday. Many states reverted back to the November 11th date. and in 1975, legislation passed to return the date of celebration to November 11th. From 1978 Veteran's Day is celebrated on November 11th.
Take a moment today at 11 A.M. to give thanks for the heroism that is always a safeguard for our democracy.
Today is Veteran's Day, a Federal Holiday. Based on my scanning of four newspapers this morning, it has become lost in the plethora of current news. I had a difficult time finding any mention of it - not even the tradition of the President placing a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
Here is a refresher on the history of this holiday. In 1919, President Wilson proclaims the first 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 this country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because the thing from which it 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 of the celebration was the cessation of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M. The reason for selecting the date of November 11th the armistice ending World War I was signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November 1918.
In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran;s Day.
Legislation was passed in 1968, changing the holiday to the fourth Monday of October with the date change to begin in 1971. From 1971 until 1975 this was the date of the Federal Holiday. Many states reverted back to the November 11th date. and in 1975, legislation passed to return the date of celebration to November 11th. From 1978 Veteran's Day is celebrated on November 11th.
Take a moment today at 11 A.M. to give thanks for the heroism that is always a safeguard for our democracy.
posted by shirley harry at 7:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home