Posted on 11/11/2005 2:34:55 AM PST by Squantos
Today's question:
Why didn't Veterans Day become a Monday holiday along with Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and some others?
There are some things you just don't mess with. ... And Veterans Day (is one of them).
Veterans Day originally was known as Armistice Day and marked the end of World War I at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918 - 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month.
Congress designated that date as Armistice Day in 1926, and it became a national holiday in 1938. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill designating Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.
Then in 1968 came the Uniform Holiday Bill, which shuffled some holidays to Monday to give a lot of people three-day weekends. This moved Veterans Day to the last Monday in October.
Do you remember that? Probably not, because most states just ignored it because they liked having Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The first last-Monday-in-October Veterans Day was celebrated Oct. 25, 1971, and pretty much just confused and annoyed everyone.
In 1975, President Ford signed a law that took Veterans Day back to Nov. 11, and it's been that way since 1978. Why did it take three years? Don't ask me, I don't know.
When Nov. 11 falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday. If it's on Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday.
As near as I can tell, the reason Veterans Day didn't catch on as a Monday holiday just seems to be the historic significance of the date - the whole 11-11-11 thing. People just want it to be on Nov. 11 and, by golly, it's going to be on Nov. 11.
So what's the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Did your grandma use to call Memorial Day Decoration Day? Mine did.
The idea is that on Memorial Day, we remember and honor all those men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country.
And the idea is that on Veterans Day, we honor all those who served in war or peace, the living and dead. ...
Getting an early start for next year...
Thank you Squantos.
Thank you Squatos, and other veterans.
Yeah early day....:o)
Fat thumbs ...sun was in my eyes...ect etc
Mod can ya fix date in that title
As a veteran that lost a brother and friends way back to WW2 and Korea, I have no optimism for the future of this country.
..."Many men are here to stay"....God Bless all the Vets.
Thank You Veterans!
Armistice Day until '56.
That is why some of our older folks still call it that...
I guess it now is the the un-official start of the "holiday" season...
TO all our Vets and Soldiers!
For my small contribution to the observation of today and tribute to Vets visit
I did this for a radio/community event years ago and still keep it posted. When I tried to download the audio version...yes that's me speaking...it didn't stream, probably because I'm at work. It DID work when I right clicked and saved.
Again THANK YOU ALL!
prisoner6
God Bless all our Veterans.
Thank you for your service to our country!
Squantos, it's my understanding that they had some pretty large guns in
World War I. Here's one which you might get a kick out of:
American naval ordnance on wheels; a 14in., 30 mile gun.
Well done sir.........thanks for sharing that with us !
Stay safe !
Here's a bad day at the range for one troop......
http://www.wimp.com/artillery/
BTTT
Just be happy that it is observed. The University I work for, doesn't.
It Has Always Been The Soldier.
It is the soldier,
not the President who gives us democracy.
It is the soldier,
not the Congress who takes care of us.
It is the soldier,
not the Reporter who has given us Freedom of Press.
It is the soldier,
not the Poet who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the soldier,
not the campus Organizer who has given us the
Freedom to Demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag;
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
that allows the protester to burn the flag.
(Father Dennis O'Brien, US Marine Corp. Chaplain)
Got to be on record. THANKS TO ALL VETERANS! THIS IS YOUR DAY!
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