Happy Veteran’s Day

  • Veteran's Day Parade, Savannah, GA, Nov. 2017, author photo.
    11 Nov

    Happy Veteran’s Day

    By : Rebecca Y. Vaughn Category : Veteran's Day

    Harry S. Truman in WWI doughboy uniform, ca. 1918, Truman Library.

    My nephew was unaware that Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day—in reference to the day fighting stopped in World War I,  “The Great War.” This ceasefire occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

    In our country, Armistice Day was originally designated as a day to honor America’s World War I veterans annually. However, in 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation which renamed the anniversary “Veteran’s Day” and extended the recognition to include US veterans of all wars.

    In keeping with this collective spirit, I reflect today on the millions of Americans—including my father, the majority of his fellow agents, and all of the presidents he protected—who have dutifully served in our armed forces. I am thankful for their sacrifices.

    Happy Veteran’s Day!

    Lt. Harry S. Truman, Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, ca. June-1917, Truman Library.
    General Eisenhower, 1944, US Army, Eisenhower Library.
    Lt. John F. Kennedy, US Navy, 1942, Frank Turgeon Jr., JFK Library.
    Cong. Lyndon B. Johnson, US Navy, 1942, credit: Unknown, LBJ Library.
    Lt. Commander Richard Milhous Nixon, US Navy, ca 1945, Naval History and Heritage Command.

    ______________________________

    https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

    • 2 thoughts on “Happy Veteran’s Day”