Halifax County Historical Society to Honor World War I Veterans | Local News

0

[ad_1]

The Halifax County Historical Society is making a last ditch effort to include all World War I veterans in their next publication.

To date, over 1,000 have been documented. The company encourages community members to share the names of soldiers, military photographs, and any military information.

Members are available at Chaffin House (110 Mountain Road in Halifax) to scan information family members may have every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional dates are available by appointment by calling 434-479-0083, or information can be emailed to [email protected].

World War I – known in 1918 as “The Great War†– officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919 at the Palace of Versailles, France. However, the fighting had ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation, between the Allies and Germany entered into force on the 11th hour or 11th day of the 11th month; therefore, November 11, 1918 is widely regarded as the end of “the war to end all warsâ€.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it freed us and because of the opportunity it gave America to show sympathy for peace and justice in the councils of nations… â€

Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a resolution on June 4, 1926: for the United States to have peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope will never be severed again, and Considering that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated by thanksgiving, prayers and exercises intended 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 a holiday: Be it therefore resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives agree), that the President of the United States be requested to issue a proclamation calling on officials to fly the flag of the United States on all government buildings on November 11 and calling on the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other appropriate places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

A law of May 13, 1938 named November 11 of each year as a public holiday – a day dedicated to the cause of world peace and which would then be 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 the 1938 law, it was amended by replacing the word “armistice” and inserting its place the word “veterans”. With the approval of June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

On October 8, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation stating: Purpose. To this end, I designate the Veterans Affairs Administrator as the chair of a national Veterans Day committee, which will include other people that the chair may choose from and who will nationally coordinate the planning necessary for the Veterans Day. celebration. I also ask the heads of all departments and agencies of the executive branch of government to assist the National Committee in any way they can. “

President Eisenhower signed legislation changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with some confusion on October 25, 1971. It was evident that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historical and patriotic significance for many citizens, so the 20 September 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law that reduced the annual celebration of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, starting in 1978.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11 regardless of the day of the week it falls. Restoration of the Veterans Day celebration to November 11 preserves the historic significance of the date, draws attention to the purpose of Veterans Day – A celebration to honor American veterans for their patriotism, their love of the country and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

[ad_2]

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.