November 2012 - Military Medical | News

Page 16 • November 2012 • Military Medical News
History of
Veterans Day
U.S. President Woodrow
Wilson first proclaimed
Armistice Day
or November 11, 1919. In prolaiming
the holiday, he said
“To us in America, the reflecions
of Armistice Day will be
illed with solemn pride in the
eroism of those who died in
he country’s service and with
ratitude for the victory, both
ecause of the thing from which
t has freed us and because of the
pportunity it has given America
o show her sympathy with peace
nd justice in the councils of the
ations.”[2]
The United States Congress
assed a concurrent resolution
even years later on June 4, 1926,
equesting that President Calvin
oolidge issue another proclaation
to observe November 11
ith appropriate ceremonies.[2]
Congressional Act (52 Stat.
51; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a)
pproved May 13, 1938, made
he 11th of November in each
ear a legal holiday: “a day to be
edicated to the cause of world
eace and to be thereafter celbrated
and known as ‘Armistice
ay’.”
In 1945, WWII vetern
Raymond Weeks from
irmingham, Alabama, had the
dea to expand Armistice Day
o celebrate all veterans, not just
hose who died in World War
. Weeks led a delegation to
en. Dwight Eisenhower, who
upported the idea of National
eterans Day. Weeks led the
irst national celebration in 1947
n Alabama and annually until his
eath in 1985. President Reagan
onored Weeks at the White
ouse with the Presidential
itizenship Medal in 1982 as
he driving force for the national
oliday. Elizabeth Dole, who preared
the briefing for President
eagan, determined Weeks as
he “Father of Veterans Day.”
Although originally scheduled
or celebration on November 11
f every year, starting in 1971
n accordance with the Uniform
onday Holiday Act, Veterans
ay was moved to the fourth
onday of October. In 1978,
t was moved back to its origial
celebration on November 11.
hile the legal holiday remains
n November 11, if that date
appens to be on a Saturday
r Sunday, then organizations
hat formally observe the holiay
will normally be closed on
he adjacent Friday or Monday,
espectively.
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Military Medical
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Our Veterans on
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Every Day