Many Santa Clarita Valley residents Tuesday honored the men and women who have served the United States of America, nearly 100 years after the first Veterans Day.
Sponsored Articles
“Remembering those who have passed and those who have come home is only half the task that is before us today,” said retired United States Marine Corps Sgt. Tim Stratton at the city of Santa Clarita Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Veteran’s Historical Plaza in Newhall. “We must also carry their love, honor and their stand of duty forward. Our future generations – -our children — must know who they are and were.”
Various events were held around the Santa Clarita Valley to commemorate and honor all of those who have served. Some speakers at the events spoke of social issues affecting veterans.
“Every American conflict since the Civil War has not seen a cycle of veterans not receiving the physical and mental health assistance they need from the federal government,” said Joshua Rivers, a USMC veteran and founder of The Battle Buddy Foundation. “Some of the most well-known and successful companies in America were started by veterans. FedEx, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Verizon, 7/11, 24-Hour Fitness Just To name a few.
“Veterans are the answer. We must push the ball forward, we must have a call to action, we must lead and inspire. We must realise the oath we took at boot camp does not simply end at discharge.”
Hundreds attended the city of Santa Clarita Veterans Day Ceremony along with the Eternal Valley Memorial Park & Mortuary ceremony.
“On Veteran’s Day, our nation honors our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have dedicated themselves to the defense of our country and the advancement of the freedom and liberty that makes our republic the greatest in the world,” said Supervisor Michael Antonovich. “We pray for those who have died, those with us today, and those currently serving to advance our resolve to preserve liberty and peace throughout the world. For your service, sacrifice and courage, you have earned our permanent gratitude and respect. Thank you and God bless you and your families.”
A Brief History of Veterans Day — Courtesy of KKCO 11, an affiliate of NBC
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress – at the urging of the veterans service organizations – amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 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:
Whereas it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and
Whereas in the intervening years the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; and
Whereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351), that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; and
Whereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:
Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.
I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.
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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of October in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.
Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.
Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday
If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday – Saturday or Sunday – the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.
United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as “National Veterans Awareness Week.” The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
The Difference Between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.