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Veterans
Veterans Memorials throughout the United States
Origins and History of Veterans Day
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The Origins of Veterans Day
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England
and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place
of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These
memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to
the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as
"Armistice Day."
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was "the War to end all wars," November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.
Armistice Day Changed To Honor All VeteransAn answer to the question of how to pay tribute to those who had served in this latest, great war came in a proposal made by Representative Edwin K. Rees of Kansas: Change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, and make it an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.
On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War. In 1973, a law passed providing interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but none was found for several years. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the others. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, The 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.
A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.
National Ceremonies Held at ArlingtonThe focal point for official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath. The bugler plays "taps." The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater.
Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington and elsewhere are coordinated by the President’s Veterans Day National Committee. Chaired by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the committee represents national veterans organizations.
Governors of states and U.S. territories appoint Veterans Day chairpersons who, in cooperation with the National Committee and the Department of Defense, arrange and promote local ceremonies.
HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY
Official recognition of the end of the first modern global conflict -- World War I - - was made in a concurrent resolution (44 Stat. 1982) enacted by Congress 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, and
the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be
dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter 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
lieu thereof 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."
A letter from the President to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley,
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, was sent on the same date designating
him to serve as Chairman. In 1958, the White House advised the VA's
General Counsel that there was no need for another letter of appointment
for each new Administrator, as the original proclamation in 1954
established the Committee with the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as
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 express will of the overwhelming majority of
the State legislatures, all major service organizations and the American people.
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.
For P. M. Release October 8, 1954
Murray Snyder, Assistant Press Secretary To The PresidentTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
Lowery Air Force Base
Denver
In connection with the signing of the proclamation on Veterans
Day, the President today sent the following letter to the Honorable
Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs:
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
(SEAL) United States of America the
one hundred and seventy-ninth.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
By the President:JOHN FOSTER DULLES
Secretary of States.
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