OBSERVANCE

History of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

LEFT:  Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "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 original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

RIGHT:  President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS, LIVING & DECEASED, WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEMSELVES FOR OUR FREEDOMS.  THANK YOU, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT EVERYDAY!

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Goodbye Friend & Classmate

Since I've moved, I still access the local paper online in my former hometown a couple times a week just to keep up with the happenings and everything. It's good to know if the town burns down or something since we still own a house there and have family/friendly ties and all.

While perusing this week, the following caught my attention:

"CLEARWATER, Fla. — Dan R. Redden, 50, of Clearwater, Fla. formerly of.."

At first I was shocked, then as I looked at the photo I thought, "No, surely it can't be." I clicked on the 'guestbook' and read the messages to the family, hoping to find a clue.  Only one message stood out.  It was from a guy I remembered from years ago, who was also unsure if this was the same Danny he knew about 30 years ago.  He left his email addy and asked for someone to contact him.

I copied his email addy and sent him a message.  I reminded him who I was and that I'd seen his post on the guestbook. I asked him to contact me if he found out anything. He emailed me back later that night saying someone had contacted him and confirmed that this was indeed our mutual friend.

It saddened me to see this since Danny was not only just a cute guy in my graduating class, but funny, bright, one of the nicest guys I ever knew and you'd probably ever meet, and one of my friends back then also.

It's never easy when you see a photo of your friends the way you remember them... except the age next to the face is about 30 years more than it should be. Back then that age signified our parents' generation, not ours! Where did the time go? Where did our youth run off to?

Oh sure, we grow up and out and go gray and bald. At some point we expect to see our friends again at a school reunion or a school function with our own kids and can't help but notice the changes in and on each other that have taken place through the years. We expect to see a few more lines and wrinkles on each others' faces. But we never expect or want to see their face in the Obits. Sadly there have been too many of my classmates there...

Rest in peace Danny.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Have a great day/evening and a frightful night!   And don't forget to sweep those clock hands back for an extra 60-minutes on the witching hour...


For some really cool 'ween music, hit "play" then choose "video"

• Frankenstein by Edgar Winter

More Edgar Winter music on iLike

TALKING DOG

"Woofies!  Daisy here.  Just fillin in fer Mom since she's been busy wif a wot of stuff dis day, like makin my sissy Ginger behave, and chasing sqewerls off da porch, which Ginger shud do but she got too fat from eatin too much and now she's just too wazy..  And da cats... don't get me started on dem darn cats...  Anywaze, I'm gonna go chaze sum sqewerls too in a widdle bit, but fust I wawnted to tewl you dis joke dat I hurd frum th' naybor dog down da stweet.  It goes wike dis:"

A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog For Sale ‘ He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever sitting there.

‘You talk?’ he asks.

‘Yep,’ the Lab replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says ‘So, what’s your story?’

The Lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA. In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’ ‘I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running.

But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.’ ‘I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.’

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

‘Ten dollars,’ the guy says.

‘Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?’

‘Because he’s a liar. He never did any of that crap…

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Gellin' at the Trade Show

COME ON IN

Last weekend we attended the Better Homes Show here in Fredericksburg. I threatened that we might in my post below. We figured since we’re new to the area and our house isn't as lucky, might as well get familiar with the new home products out there and the hawkers who sell/install them. So with pancakes in my tummy, Dr. Scholl’s in my shoes, a warm blazer for the chilly Fall day, I was all set to go.

It was a good show, lots of folks turned out for the event. I usually enjoy going to these things and have even been known to work a booth or two in my shady past of marketing jobs. Most of my positions were either pushing WV tourism or broadcasting from whichever radio station I was with at the time. But the one constant I had was I always enjoyed the people. No matter how long the day(s) I was chained in my booth handing out brochures, giving away cash/prizes, or belting out a rock or country song on occasion to demonstrate a karaoke machine for a fellow vendor, the people who came by kept me entertained. Their mishmash of personalities and backgrounds was… well… to quote Forrest Gump, “…like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

STEP RIGHT UP

There’s something akin to a “carnival” atmosphere at a trade show, minus the cotton candy, fairway rides, and the smell of sweat and sauerbraten. Like the Carney pitching the bearded lady or his 2-headed goat, trade shows have their share of vendors pitching products, urging you to sign up for a “free no obligation demonstration in your home at a time convenient for you one day next week before this one time only sale with $0 down & 0% financing is over, and just for signing up today your name will go in the pot to win the grand door prize at the end of the show, your presence is not required to win!”  Whew!   Now you’d think after working these things myself that I’d already know the tricks of the trade and recognize the bells and whistles enough to stay away from all those drawing slips to win this and that. After all, once my name and number goes in the pot then I’ve just given telemarketers within a 200 mile radius the green light to call and interupt my dinner to remind me of everything I thought I was in desperate need of at that Home Show last Saturday. But “common sense” suffered a deaf ear when “throw caution to the wind” shouted, “Enter and win that Sony Big Screen TV w/the Bose surround sound, yeah!” (Yeah, right!)

BOPPIN' RIGHT ALONG

As we walked along the aisles between booths, I noticed how desperate some of the vendors appeared for attention. It made me giggle because it reminded me of something:

Remember those punching bags we had as kids that looked like clowns? They were full of air and had sand in the bottom so when you punched them, they popped back up again. That’s what some of those vendors are like! They kind of pop up in front of you with big clown smiles and all sorts of free favors to pull you into their booth. Then before you know what hit you, you’ve agreed to an in-home kitchen cabinet resurface demonstration at no obligation to you whatsoever, and since you’re acting now they’re giving you 15% off the price, which oddly seems to be a secret from the clown working the booth.  Only the clown who comes to your house will be able to reveal that.

One lady jumped out at us and immediately went into her spill how if we purchased “today,” she could save us 10% on granite countertops. She didn’t even ask us if we owned our own home or even needed new countertops. She droned on before we finally got a word in to tell her we are not looking to replace ours at this time. She got a little pouty but hey, it wouldn’t have killed her to politely ask if we were, or at least wait and see if we even slowed down when we got to her booth before she jumped out and grabbed us like a banchee witch on Halloween. But still, I had my Dr. Scholl’s underfoot so it didn’t ruin my good mood…

Another guy stopped us with a basket of candy. Actually, I would’ve stopped for the candy anyway because I like candy. And I’m a sucker for Peanut M&M’s, even if it means having to hear a speech on why I should bank at PNC. “Yes, thank you, we’ll go over and open an account first thing Monday. Thanks so much. Bye now!” Of course we had no intention of doing so since we just opened our accounts with another bank 6 weeks ago and we’re still transferring our business from WV. But the M&M’s hit the spot. We walked on.

A couple more we had to fend off with abruptness and 'pretend laser missiles,' but for the most part, not all the vendors were so annoying. We joked around with some, actually found some businesses we might do business with; I met a nice lady who sold natural foods, another who gave me a free beater belt for my Rainbow Vac; and I got a free massage from a cute guy! Can’t beat that!! So many clowns later we finally came to the Exit. By then, we both had our hands full of goodie bags filled with freebies and brochures.

LOOK BACK - LOOK OUT

I turned to look back before strolling out to the lobby. The clowns were still bopping up and down, up and down, as more consumers tried to make their way between their booths. Some appeared a little wobbly for a second or two, but none lost air and they kept smiling those big old clownish smiles.  A lady at the booth in front of the Exit must've thought I had just entered because she grabbed a brochure and started toward me.  Obviously she didn't recall trying to sell me a Koi Pond for my front yard 3-hours before.  I yelled for Bob to wait up and ran!


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