As has been written before and will be written many times hereafter, the origin of Veteran’s Day as a holiday on the 11th of November every year began back in 1918 when the Germans signed the Armistice to mark the end of the First World War, and that day became known as Armistice Day. Veteran’s Day is also celebrated in other parts of the world, where it is known as either Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. United States President Woodrow Wilson first announced the Armistice Day in the year 1919 and subsequently, in 1926, Congress of the United States passed a resolution to request the President to observe Armistice Day on the 11th of November with US flag celebrations. It was not until 1939 that a public holiday was declared on Armistice. An act that was approved in May, 1938 made November 11th of every year a legal holiday. It was a day that was officially dedicated to world peace, and all government buildings were expected to display American flags.
Interestingly, it was a Kansas shoe shop owner who turned Armistice Day into Veterans’ Day. In the year 1953, Al King suggested that Armistice Day should be replaced by All Veterans’ Day. He approached the Emporia Chamber of Commerce to seek support for his cause. Most Emporia merchants campaigned for this change, and they were joined by members of the Board of Education. Eventually, a bill was put forward to the Congress by US representative Ed Rees, who also happened to be a member of Emporia. In May of 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower made the bill into a law, and in November of the same year, Armistice Day was officially replaced byVeterans’ Day. From 1971 to 1978, Veterans’ Day was rescheduled to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of every October, but it was reverted to its original date of celebration, which is the 11th of November, in the year 1978.
For people in the US, Veterans’ Day is a time to hoist the American flag to show gratitude to the war veterans who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the well-being of the nation. It is a federal holiday as well as a state holiday in all the states of the USA. Military veterans have selflessly made great sacrifices to maintain peace within the country and abroad, and they should be given due honor for their heroic deeds. This Veterans’ Day the Grand Terrace Wall of Freedom committee will be celebrating those who served with a program at Freedom Park (old Pico Park) in the City of Grand Terrace at 11:00 p.m. The six foot high FREEDOM wall will be the center piece of the ceremony. Please come and enjoy the festivities that celebrate those who have served their country in the military.