Americans across the nation will celebrate Veterans Day this week by having a day off work, participating in or watching a parade or attending a ceremony at a cemetery, but too few really know how the holiday began.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. It was celebrated on Nov. 11 to commemorate the armistice, or end of fighting in World War I at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918 the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The site, on a hillside overlook the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for American veterans.
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor. These ceremonies all took place on Nov.11.
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action.
If the idealistic hope had been realized, that World War I was "the War to end all Wars," Nov. 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe and 16.5 million Americans took part. A total of 407,000 of them died in service, more than 292, 000 in battle. Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of World War II and Korea, the U.S. Congress was requested to make this day an occasion to honor those that have served America in all wars. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.
On Memorial Day 1958, the bodies of two more unknown Americans 0 one killed in World War II and the other in the Korean War - were brought from overseas and buried in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I.
In 1973, a law was passed providing for the burial of an unknown soldier from the Vietnam War, but none was found until 1984 and then he was laid to rest beside the others. To honor these men and all Americans who gave their lives in wrs, an Army honor guard keeps day and night vigil.
A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. But it soon became apparent that Nov. 11 was a date of historic significance to most Americans. Therefore, in 1978, Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.
The focal point for official national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknown. At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb.
The nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath followed by a bugler playing taps.
Every year the President of the United States urges all Americans to honor the commitment of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies. The American Legion is an active participant in most of these ceremonies.
This year, as a tribute to the Carroll County veterans who served in World War 1, Alice Horner of California, a descendant of the Preston and Downing families who were some of Carroll County's earliest pioneers, has transcribed for the historical website, the "Carroll County Honor Roll," a book which includes hundreds of pictures and biographical sketches of World War I veterans, as well as a small reference to the Red Cross nurses.
Horner, who has contributed a great deal of Carroll County historical data to the website has been honored for her work by being named "Featured Transcriptionist of the Month."
To go directly to the Honor Roll section of the website, visit www.genealogytrails.com/ill/carroll/carrollac1.html
