On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month since June 1st, 1954, this day in the United States of America has been known as Veterans Day. Up until this day in 1954, around the world this day was recognized as the armistice to end hostilities between Allied Nations and Germany, ending World War I. The treaty was actually signed in Versailles, France on June 28, 1918. This treaty was the end to end all great wars. Of course, history has told a different story and yet this war to end all wars has not yet reached its hundred year anniversary.
Over this time we as Americans have engaged in a Second World War which produced The greatest generation. The Korean War, The forgotten war is a conflict that still goes on to this day. The Vietnam War changed the look of war forever; politicians and America turned its back on a generation of soldiers. Americans have seen the Cold War, The Balkans, Iraq (twice), and Afghanistan, which some believe has been the longest war. Not true! The United States had its finger in Vietnam since the 1950s, and all the little battles in between that have taken American soldiers lives for what we Americans treasure most: freedom.
Veterans Day is a national holiday to celebrate those brave men and women who have served our United States. It is a sad thing that all this conflict is the reason we celebrate this 11th day of November each year. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11, 1919, as Armistice Day and on that day he said:
To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the countrys 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 nations.
Much pride has gone into celebrating Veterans Day, and many years ago this day was a holiday that all businesses in the United States closed their doors at the 11th hour, suspending all business until the following day. In 1953, Alvin King, proprietor of a small shoe repair shop in Emporia, Kan., an active member of The American War Dads during WWII, had an idea to expand Armistice Day to include celebrating service of all veterans not just WWI veterans. After starting a campaign to change Armistice Day to All Veterans Day, the Emporia Chamber of Commerce got on board and determined that 90 percent of the businesses and the school board were in favor of closing their doors on the 11th of November to celebrate and honor all veterans. U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, a resident of Emporia, supported and pushed a bill through Congress that was signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 26, 1954. On June 1, 1954, Congress amended the act, replacing Armistice with Veteran, and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since.
Because of the Uniform Holiday Act, Veterans Day was celebrated on a Monday to provide for a national three-day holiday. Veterans Day was still celebrated by many on the 11th day of the 11th month, and the holiday act was ended, affecting Veterans Day being celebrated on whichever day the 11th of November fell on. Since this change, many businesses, local governments, and many schools have chosen to remain open despite Nov. 11, Veterans Day, being a national holiday.
The desire and will of one man and the compassion to celebrate and honor the sacrifice of all veterans has brought us all Americans a day to remember and thank those who have served this great nation. The story does not end with a name change and celebration for those who have served our country.
WWI was not only horrific in death, but also left us with one of the most popular poems of that era. In Flanders Field, the poem written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, Army surgeon, Canadian forces, Belgium, after the death of his good friend Lt. Alexis Helmer.
After presiding over the funeral of his good friend, McCrae wrote in his notebook after seeing the cemeteries of Flanders awash with red poppies. The grounds gave life to the seeds, which grew to cover every disturbed partial of ground. As he sat in wonderment at the view of red poppies, he wrote the poem:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row, / That mark our place; and in the sky / The larks, still bravely singing, fly / Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, / Loved and were loved, and now we lie, / In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: / To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high. / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields.
The poppy is known as the Remembrance Poppy, and many of the veterans organizations offer this little red flower on Veterans Day and Memorial Day not only as a sign of remembrance of those who have passed, but also to those who are living. As Veterans Day approaches, let us all remember those who have given us this most precious day and be thankful for their sacrifices, for what we have has not been for nothing. To all veterans, this day is yours, march in a parade, be proud of your service, be proud of your country, and to all of the veterans, I salute you. To the residents of this county, thank you, your support is always welcome, remember to thank a vet.
The Cortez Veterans monument, which is located in the southeast corner of the Cortez Cemetery, will be dedicated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th year (11 a.m. Nov. 11, 2011). A schedule of events follows:
7 a.m. Annual Veterans Day Breakfast, American Legion
11 a.m. Veterans Memorial Dedication, Cortez Cemetery
1 p.m. Veterans Day Parade on Montezuma Avenue
3 p.m. Local Elementary schools program, American Legion
6 p.m. Dinner and Dance, Location to be determined
Please come and join us in a day of celebration and to honor veterans of the community. To those veterans who would like to attend the days activities and need a ride, please call me. I will arrange for your transportation.
I would like to thank Boy Scout Troop 522 for performing the honorable service of laying to rest the American flag. In a special American flag burning ceremony conducted at the American Legion on Sept. 23, the Scouts performed the duties of putting to rest many tattered American flags. With the assistance of members from the American Legion, the ceremony was conducted in the finest tradition of laying our most treasured symbol to rest.
Robert Bert Valencia is a retired U.S. Army veteran, and a member of the VFW, American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He can be reached at 560-1891.