Syndication News Column:
Veterans Day - 2019
(This image was provided courtesy of the United States Forest Service.)
What will you be doing today at 11:00 AM?
Some Americans will pause what they are doing to remain silent at that moment.
The retail clerk may ask you to wait for your purchase to be completed at their store. The business executive may ask you to hold on during a telephone call with her. The young man may stand with his hand across his heart.
These individuals will be taking the time to reflect on the service and sacrifices made by the men and women who have helped protect our nation.
Military service has been part of life for countless Americans throughout the nation.
On November 11, 2011, the United States Navy reported that “Spectators say thank you to veterans during the
2011 New York City Veterans Day Parade…More than 400 Sailors participated in the event and an
estimated 600,000 people lined the route.” (The photograph was produced by Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Sippel and was provided courtesy of the United States Navy.)
“A large ‘Thank You Veterans!’ display [was]…set up at Fort Vancouver Military Post prior to the annual
Fort Vancouver Veterans Day Parade [in] Vancouver, Washington [on] November 10, 2018,” according
to the Oregon National Guard. (The photo was produced by Mr. John Hughel and was provided
courtesy of the Oregon Military Department Public Affairs.)
Each year, the United States has three holidays designed to honor segments of the population that serve and have served our country. Memorial Day, held on the last Monday of each May, is designed to honor those who have died while in military service or because of injuries incurred during military service for the United States. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday during May each year; this day is designed to celebrate the men and women who are currently serving in all branches of the military of the United States.
Veterans Day – celebrated today – is designed to honor all military veterans of the United States.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs describes the purpose of Veterans Day as “A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”
The Armistice Day Parade in Detroit, Michigan, celebrated the first Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. In
a news article on the next day, The Detroit Free Press reported that “One-Hundred Thousand Witness Armistice
Day March of Nine Divisions”. (This photograph was produced by The Detroit News and
was provided courtesy of the Detroit Institute of Arts.)
To understand why Veterans Day is called “Veterans Day” and why it’s celebrated in November, you need to go back 100 years.
The Great War – what we now call “World War I” – had just ended.
The armistice ending this worldwide conflict took effect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
During the following year, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation to celebrate Armistice Day on November 11, 1919.
Part of the comments from the President on that date:
“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 nations.”
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, “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 AM.”
Children at the Force School in Washington, District of Columbia, are seen here as a tree is planted in remembrance
on the first Armistice Day in 1919. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the Library of Congress.)
On that first Armistice Day, newspapers throughout the United States included advertisements from businesses that were closed to honor the service and sacrifices of so many.
Ads in the Albuquerque Journal indicated that Ward’s Store and Crescent Grocery were closed all day for Armistice Day. In the San Bernardino Daily Sun, a front page advertisement stated that both Harris Stores in California were closed all day. The Great Falls Daily Tribune included an ad from Sandahl Grocery in Montana that the store was closed all day. Hammersmiths, Sakowitz Brothers, and Bering-Cortes Hardware each had advertisements in The Houston Post noting that they were closed for Armistice Day. The Wilmington Morning News in Delaware included an ad from the R. L. Foord Furniture Company stating that the business would be closed on Armistice Day.
In Independence, Kansas, an advertisement on November 11, 1919, in The Evening Star stated that all banks in the city – four banks in total – would be closed for Armistice Day.
In 1926, the United States Congress passed a resolution asking the President “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.”
Armistice Day was formally made a Federal legal holiday in 1938.
With the service and sacrifices of so many during World War II and the Korean War, the name of the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in 1954. “November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars,” according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
In 1968, the Federal government made the decision to change the timing of several holidays, including Veterans Day. Starting in 1971, Veterans Day was celebrated by the Federal government on the fourth Monday during October rather than on November 11th. The purpose was to create another three-day holiday.
According to the United States Army Center of Military History, all of the states – except for Mississippi and South Dakota – agreed to observe Veterans Day on that October date.
The change, though, met with opposition by many.
Veterans throughout the United States expressed opposition to the moving Veterans Day from its traditional date of historical significance to be part of a three-day weekend that would help potentially increase retail sales and travel, among other benefits.
In 1972, Louisiana and Wisconsin changed their observances of Veterans Day back to November 11th, according to the United States Army Center of Military History. Other states, according to the Center, followed suit: In 1974, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, South Carolina, and West Virginia moved the holiday back to November 11th, while in 1975, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon…Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming changed their observances from the fourth Monday of October to November 11th.
In 1975, the Federal government agreed to change Veterans Day back to its traditional date of November 11th starting in 1978.
Today is the 100th anniversary of this holiday.
What will you be doing at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of this year?
Weather conditions do not stop the remembrance of those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.
“United States Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sara Bauer, 388th Component Maintenance Squadron aircraft fuel system
craftsman, and Staff Sgt. Felipe Mendoza, 75th Force Support Squadron First Term Airman course instructor,
place United States flags above the graves of United States military members at the Veterans Memorial Park,
Bluffdale, Utah, on November 9, 2012,” according to a statement from the United States Air Force. “A group
of volunteers from Hill Air Force Base helped the Memorial Park's staff place flags by more than 4,300
military members graves to commemorate Veterans Day.” (This photograph was produced by
Airman 1st Class Tiffany DeNault and was provided courtesy of the United States Air Force.)
© 2019 Richard McDonough