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Echo Company Two-Seven Tooter
"Ready
for Anything Counting on
Nothing" 11
November, 2009
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The History of Veterans
Day
Did you
know that most Americans confuse
Veterans Day with Memorial Day?
Both holidays celebrate our
veterans' service, but with one
significant difference.
What Do You Know About
Veterans Day?
Veterans Day gives Americans
the opportunity to celebrate
the bravery and sacrifice of
all U.S. veterans. However,
most Americans confuse this
holiday with Memorial Day,
reports the Department of
Veterans Affairs. What's
more, some Americans don't
know why we commemorate our
Veterans on Nov.11. It's
imperative that all
Americans know the history
of Veterans Day so that we
can honor our former service
members properly.
Right>
President Eisenhower
signing HR7786,
changing Armistice
Day to Veterans
Day.
A
Brief History of
Veterans Day
Veterans Day,
formerly known as
Armistice Day, was
originally set as a U.S.
legal holiday to honor
the end of World War I,
which officially took
place on November 11,
1918. In legislation
that was passed in 1938,
November 11 was
"dedicated to the cause
of world peace and to be
hereafter celebrated and
known as 'Armistice
Day.'" As such, this new
legal holiday honored
World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having
been through both World
War II and the Korean
War,
the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at
the urging of the veterans
service organizations --
amended the Act of 1938 by
striking out the word
"Armistice" and inserting
the word "Veterans." With
the approval of this
legislation on June 1, 1954,
Nov. 11 became a day to
honor American veterans of
all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms
Holiday Bill ensured
three-day weekends for
federal employees by
celebrating four national
holidays on Mondays:
Washington's Birthday,
Memorial Day, Veterans Day,
and Columbus Day. Under this
bill, Veterans Day was moved
to the last Monday of
October. Many states did not
agree with this decision and
continued to celebrate the
holiday on its original
date. The first Veterans Day
under the new law was
observed with much confusion
on Oct. 25, 1971.
Finally on September 20,
1975, President Gerald R.
Ford signed a law which
returned the annual
observance of Veterans Day
to its original date of Nov.
11, beginning in 1978. Since
then, the Veterans Day
holiday has been observed on
Nov. 11.
Complete History of Veterans
Day
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Celebrating the Veterans Day
Holiday
If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on
a non-workday - Saturday or
Sunday - the holiday is observed
by the federal government on
Friday (if the holiday falls on
Saturday) or Monday (if the
holiday falls on Sunday).
Federal government closings are
established by the U.S. Office
of Personnel Management - a
complete schedule can be found
here. State and local government
closings are determined locally,
and non- government businesses
can close or remain open as they
see fit, regardless of federal,
state or local government
operation determinations.
United States Senate
Resolution 143, which was
passed on Aug. 4, 2001,
designated the week of
Nov.11 through Nov. 17, as
"National Veterans Awareness
Week." The resolution calls
for educational efforts
directed at elementary and
secondary school students
concerning the contributions
and sacrifices of veterans.
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Wear
Your Medals on Veterans Day
The Department of Veterans
Affairs calls on all veterans to
express their patriotism and
pride on Veterans Day through a
display of medals.
Show Your Pride on
Veterans Day
The Department of Veterans
Affairs calls on all veterans to
express their patriotism and
pride on Veterans Day through a
display of medals earned in
their military service. Join
your comrades in public display
of your military decorations.
It's a way to show your
community the spirit of
America's veterans and remind
your neighbors of the service
and sacrifice of those who
guarded democracy.
As we salute America's heroes on
Veterans Day, wear your medals
and show your pride, whether
participating in public
observances or relaxing with
family and friends. Your medals
tell a story of service in the
cause of freedom that all
Americans need to hear.
Wearing Your Medals
- A Statement of
Patriotism
The Veterans Pride campaign
was launched to promote
veterans wearing their
military medals on Veterans
Day, Memorial Day and the
Fourth of July.
Beginning
with Veterans Day 2006, the
Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) joined with
major veterans service
organizations to bring
veterans together across the
country in a symbolic
demonstration of unity and
patriotism.
Semper Fi,
Echo Company 2/7 Vietnam
Veterans Chapter
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