Written by guest columnist Llewelyn Moss
Yup, it’s a day off, it’s a long weekend. Don’t let that be all that it is.
It’s VETERAN’S DAY.
From History.com
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day—a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.
WWI Army troops
One year later, in November 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The day’s observation included parades and public gatherings, as well as a brief pause in business and school activities at 11 a.m.
WWII Sailors
In 1954, after lobbying efforts by veterans’ service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Korean War Marines
The next development in the story of Veterans Day unfolded in 1968, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which sought to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees—and encourage tourism and travel—by celebrating four national holidays (Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day) on Mondays.
Vietnam War Airmen
In 1975, after it became evident that the actual date of Veterans Day carried historical and patriotic significance to many Americans, President Gerald Ford signed a new law returning the observation of Veterans Day to November 11th, beginning in 1978.”
Coast Guard Vietnam
Gulf Wars
When I was a kid growing up, in the 1950’s, the day was officially Veteran’s Day, but my grandparents (Grandpa was a WWI veteran), my parents (Dad was a WWII veteran), pretty much everybody still referred to it as Armistice Day. There were huge parades, even in our small town. Convoys of military vehicles traveled the highways. Flights of planes were overhead. As kids, the “Flying Boxcars” were our favorite plane.
I miss those days when our military branches, and more importantly, the members who made up those branches, were so highly honored. From our nation’s founding, our military has been an extension of our beliefs. A force for good in the world. Sadly, other nations, nations that we’ve saved, forget our nation’s men and women who fought on their behalf. And our own people forget, or have never learned, that we owe our very existence to these self-sacrificing men and women.
Some of our own so-called leaders have despised our military. They have sought to pull the teeth of our fighting forces. They have deliberately weakened the only guarantee of our continued existence as a nation.
So today, the 100th year of memorializing our brave and selfless veterans, take a moment to pause and reflect on what these truest of true Patriots have given us, and reflect on the honor and respect that they deserve.
Do you have any memories of past Veteran’s Day celebrations that you’d care to share with Def-Con readers?
Or, would you like to express why you appreciate our living veterans, some of whom visit this site?
