[Ohio-talk] NFBOH-Cleveland] Celebrate our Veterans Today!

Sun Nov 12 23:03:13 UTC 2017

Dear Suzanne,
I really enjoyed your timely Veterans' Day article. As a "History buff," I 
not only enjoyed the article but learned a lot.
Best wishes,
Paul

-----Original Message----- 
From: Suzanne Turner via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2017 10:15 AM
To: octaviaculbert at live.com
Cc: Suzanne Turner ; 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Subject: [Ohio-talk] NFBOH-Cleveland] Celebrate our Veterans Today!

The NFB-Cleveland Salutes and Celebrates our Veterans Today!

Bryant Ealy and Ronnie Leeth

Thank You for your service!

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.
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.
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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