"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."
Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. A Congressional 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'."
In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954, making Armistice Day a celebration of all Veterans. Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
Every country owes a huge debt to those who fight and die for their sovereign nations. In the US, November 11 is reserved to acknowledge that debt and honor those who brave men and women who stand bravely in the service to guard and defend our country and keep the world safe.
World War I was a horrendous meat grinder involving 4.73 million service members. Of that number, 53,402 of our finest were killed and another 204,002 were wounded. This was the first major conflict for the US since the Civil War. Although billed as the “War to end all Wars, ” just 27 years later we were in an even larger conflict on both hemispheres of the globe involving 16.11 million service members. In this conflict, we lost 291,557 troops and 670,846 more were wounded.
It was right for Eisenhower to assign this day to the recognition of all men and women who served in every conflict. From the Korean War to today in Iraq and Afghanistan we continue to fight the good fight. Many or our finest have sacrificed their lives, limbs, and minds on the front lines of the fight.
Many others stood in support of those brave troops on the front lines, often sacrificing their lives or limbs doing so. It is fitting that we honor those men and women as well. While Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who gave their lives and those who perished while in service, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all the untold U.S. Military veterans.
As one proud Veteran to another, I stand in salute to all who serve and all who have served.
