World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President [Woodrow] Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of 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 country’s 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 a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
From United States Department of Veteran's Affairs website
So this Veteran's Day, I am going to list those in my family who have served in our Nation's wars since WWI.
WWI
John E. O'Connell (maternal grandfather)
Frank O'Connell
Glenn Trotter
WWII
Harry E. Mardis (father)
Kenneth Mardis
Richard Mardis
James H. Mardis
Walter Watson
Mario Carli
Charles Allen
Glenn Trotter
Golda Trotter O'Connell
Thomas E. O'Connell
Dorothy Rhodes O'Connell
William H. Proudfit
Korea
Paul E. Erickson
Bruce Beals
Vietnam
Kenneth Alan Mardis
Terry Mardis
Rick Mardis
Larry Allen
Operation Iraqi Freedom (Gulf War II)
Michael Fredericks
Kelly O'Connell
Vince Simmons
Thank you
10 comments:
Yes we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who have served.
it's cool to see some femail names in there... my grandma was in the army in WWII
my dad always talks about the, "You're mom wears amry boots" he just smiles and says yep. (I'm guessing that's an old joke the way he tells it ALL the time)
der--even though I can't spell females... it's been a long day already
Those who have served and are serving deserve all of our gratitude.
Those who gave their time and lives for our freedoms and others freedoms are due respect. Thank you!
I like your blogs, looking forward to your future updates.
Denise - my Aunt Dorothy was in the WAVES, and my mother's Aunt Golda was a WAC.
Your mother wears army boots - yepper, that's an old one.
Appreciation to all those that have gone before, and to all those that shall come after, Thank You All!
My dad, both my mil and fil, my uncle and my husband are all war veterans. I find it quite disheartening that Veterans day seems more to make ourselves feel better than really honoring vets. If it was really a holiday at least veterans should have the day off to attend the parades and ceremonies. At least that's my thought on the matter.
It's an amazing list, and I second Bebo. "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who have served." I can't say it any better.
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