[Vision2020] Origins of Veterans Day

[Thomas Hansen]

Thank you, Mr. Lohrmann.  I appreciate your posting.  It is a good idea to
reflect on the significance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th
month.

Take care,

Tom Hansen
SFC, U.S. Army (Retired)
Moscow, Idaho



 -----Original Message-----
From: Tim Lohrmann [mailto:timlohr@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 11:16 AM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Origins of Veterans Day



   ORIGINS OF VETERANS DAY

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington
National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River
and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for
America's veterans.
 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 holidiay 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," No! vember 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 Veterans

Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea,
Congress was requested to make this day 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 Arlington

 The 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.

Every year the President of the United States urges All Americans to honor
the commitment of our Veterans through appropriate public ceremonies.

Permission is given to reprint or republish this article. 








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