Veteran's Day

Thursday – November 11, 2010

Veterans Day:

The word veteran is defined: 1. old, of long experience: an old soldier of long service. 2. A former member of the armed forces. b. A person of long experience in some occupation or skill (as politics or arts). Some might say that a politician is artful and some might say that a soldier turned politician is an occupation that needs skill in leading.

Veteran’s Day is a holiday that we celebrate our veterans. 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.”

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 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.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when the VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

Dwight D. Eisenhower the 34th president was a soldier, a vet and President he signed the legislation with the word veteran that we celebrate today. Eisenhower led our troops and our allies to victory in World War II, by bringing freedom to the world and eliminating oppression and tyranny in foreign lands. Eisenhower represents a small minority of soldiers turned politician and even a smaller group who would become president.

There are only 13 men that have served our country in active duty that went onto serve the country as it Commander in Chief. They are: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and George H. W. Bush. This is an elite group of tacticians in their own right. This is an elite group of leaders and this is an elite group of men who fought for freedom along side every other veteran. They lived by a code and they fought by a code, they considered them selves a soldier first even in the presidency.

I wonder, on this day, what these veterans would think of the loss of our liberty that they fought to preserve. I wonder what Washington would say about an organization such as the Institute for Policy Studies funded by George Soros that is encouraging President Obama to rule by Executive Order bypassing Congress and the Constitution. I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say about oppression and tyranny that now exist in the country that he died to unite with “malice toward none.” I wonder what JFK would say about the continued nuclear threat that he embargoed the seas over. I wonder what George H.W. Bush is talking about with his son, the former president. I wonder when the spirit of these presidents will be celebrated by all Americans in the light of their sacrifice and in the light of every soldiers sacrifice. I wonder when the rest of America will unite and wake up to realize that soldiers and veterans have died to keep us free. I wonder if we can realize and resist the threats that now confront us. I know that these veterans did and I trust that future veterans will keep the fine company of these 13 men.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: Regardless of the day we should celebrate the contribution that our vets made to history’s story of freedom and liberty. Regardless of the day we should recognize that this is an American tradition and it is America that continues to be that shining city upon a hill. Regardless of the day this is what our veterans serve to preserve