History of Veterans Day
 Info: www.va.gov.
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.”
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 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."
On that same day, the President 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 Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363
(82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended
to insure 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.
President Eisenhower’s letter to Harvey V. Higley,
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans
Day National Committee
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
October 8, 1954
Dear Mr. Higley:
I have today signed a proclamation calling
upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11,
1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all
veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will
join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of
this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to
coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a
Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great
personal interest as well as your official responsibilities,
I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include
in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire
to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments
and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee
in its work in every way possible.
I have every confidence that our Nation
will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of
Veterans Day, 1954.
Sincerely,
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Veterans Day, 1954
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
3071
Whereas
it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the
anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to
the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating
ourselves to the cause of peace; and
Whereas
in the intervening years the United States has been involved
in two other great military conflicts, which have added
millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of
this Nation; and
Whereas the
Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44
Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with
appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved
May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351) , that the eleventh of November
should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice
Day; and
Whereas, in order
to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order
that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the
veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the
preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved
June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday
to Veterans Day:
Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower,
President of the United States of America , do hereby call
upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11,
1954 , as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember
the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the
seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our
heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the
task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts
shall not have been in vain.
I also direct the appropriate officials of
the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the
United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.
In order to insure proper and widespread
observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans'
organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be
affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this eighth
day of October in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and
fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
The
Origins of Veterans Day
Info: www.va.gov
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