this was sent out in email from a veteran at work, I thought it was some very good info!
ELEVEN ELEVEN ELEVEN
are very important numbers to all of us.
It marks the Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, and the Eleventh Hour.
Armistice Day is the anniversary of the official end of World War I,
November 11, 1918. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies
and Germany at Compi gne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the
Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock
in the morning the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh
month."
Historical Facts:
1918
World War I, then normally referred to simply as The Great War (no one could
imagine any war being greater!), ended with the implementation of an
armistice [temporary cessation of hostilitiesin this case until the final
peace treaty, the infamous Treaty of Versailles, was signed in 1919] between
the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November,
1918.
1919
November 11: President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the
following words: "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
the nations" The original concept for the celebration was for the suspension
of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M., with the day also
marked by parades and public meetings.
1920
On the second anniversary of the armistice, France and the United Kingdom
hold ceremonies honoring their unknown dead from the war. In America, at the
suggestion of church groups, President Wilson names the Sunday nearest
Armistice Day Sunday, on which should be held services in the interest of
international peace.
1921
Congress passes legislation approving the establishment of a Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. November 11 is chosen for
the date of the ceremony. According on October 20, Congress declares
November 11, 1921 a legal Federal holiday to honor all those who
participated in the war. The ceremony was conducted with great success.
1926
Congress adopts a resolution directing the President to issue an
annualproclamation calling on the observance of Armistice Day. Throughout
the 1920s and 1930s, most states establish November 11 as a legal holiday
and at the Federal level, an annual proclamation is issued by the President.
1938
Congress passes legislation on May 13 making November 11 a legal Federal
holiday, Armistice Day. The United States has no actual national holidays
because the states retain the right to designate their own holidays. The
Federal government can in fact only designate
holidays for Federal employees and for the District of Columbia. But
inpractice the states almost always follow the Federal lead in designation
of holidays.
1941- 1945
1950- 1953
World War II and the Korean War create millions of additional war veterans
in addition to those of the First World War already honored by Armistice Day.
1954
On June 1, President Eisenhower signs legislation changing the name of the
legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
1968
Congress passes the Monday Holiday Law which established the fourth Monday
in October as the new date for the observance of Veterans Day. The law is to
take effect in 1971.
1971-1975
The Federal observance of Veterans Day is held on the fourth Monday of
October. Initially all states follow suit except Mississippi and South
Dakota. Other states changed their observances back to November 11 as
follows: 1972- Louisiana and Wisconsin; 1974- Kentucky, Arkansas,
Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, West Virginia; 1975-
California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Montana,Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah,
West Virginia, Wyoming
1975
Legislation passed to return the Federal observance of Veterans Day to
November 11, based on popular support throughout the nation. Since the
change to the fourth Monday in October, 46 states had either continued
to commemorate November 11 or had reverted back to the original date based
on popular sentiment. The law was to take effect in 1978.
1978
Veterans Day observance reverts to November 11.
__________________
What type of...
"Parents have forgotten how to be parents" Aaron Lewis
"Get your ass back here, your a white boy walking thru the ghetto" - at the end of a bachalor party said to the bachalor while walking home.
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