11
November 2014 A.D. History of Veterans Day
No author. “History of Veterans Day.” U.S.
Department of Veteran Affairs. N.d. http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp.
Accessed 11 Nov 2014.
History of 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 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.
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