 Veteran's
Day
 HISTORY 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 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 Veterans
An 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. Link
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
The MCCCD EEO/AA Office supports and
enforces all nondiscrimination laws; and ensures that all services,
programs, and hiring practices and procedures are administered without
regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual
orientation, disability or veteran status. Further information
may be obtained by visiting: MCCCD
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office Website
|
