Sunday, November 11, 2007

Every Day is Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. Fellow blogger, Jo, at http://www.joscafe.com/ points us to the web site http://www.military.com/ for the history of this day.

President Eisenhower penned this letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs on October:

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my eternal hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning. I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,
Dwight D. Eisenhower

This year, in 2007, we will have the national observance tomorrow, on Monday. It is an ensured three day weekend for federal employees. If the day falls on a Saturday, then Friday is the day of official observance.

In August, 2001, the Senate Resolution 143 called for the week of November 11-17 to be "National Veterans Awareness Week. The resolution calls for "educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans." Ironic, huh? August, 2001, just before 9/11/2001.

As to the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day, Memorial Day is a time set aside to remember service members who died in service or as a result of injuries from battle. Fallen veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but Veterans Day is set aside to honor living veterans having served honorably in wartime or peacetime.

Every day should be Veterans Day.

3 comments:

Angevin13 said...

Indeed, everyday is Veterans Day. Or should be, in any case.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

In August, 2001, the Senate Resolution 143 called for the week of November 11-17 to be "National Veterans Awareness Week. The resolution calls for "educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans."

Karen, I don't think they are doing a good job of it, as I carried on a brief conversation with one of my gymnasts, by email. She's in high school.

I really deplore any school that does not stress the importance of our military and how noble the profession of serving is.

Thank God for our military and the brave men and women who serve in it.

Anonymous said...

My son's American History class has discussed Veterans, and Veterans' issues, all week. Thursday they made a trip to the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall, which made its way into our community last week. I was so glad to see that.