U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an
Armistice Day (what we now call Veteran’s Day) for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said, “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 U. S. Congress passed a concurrent resolution seven years later on
June 4, 1926, requesting that the then President (Calvin Coolidge) issue
another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th
of November in each year a legal holiday.
In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner (named Alfred King) had the
idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those
who served in World War I. King began a
campaign to turn Armistice Day into “All” Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the
cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants … as well as the Board of
Education … supported closing their doors on November 11th to honor
veterans. With the help of then U.S.
Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through
Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower
signed it into law on May 26, 1954.
Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with
“Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor,
Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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