Origins of Veterans Day explained, celebrations for Morgan veterans announced

In the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, an armistice was signed agreeing to end World War I. On the first anniversary of the end of the war, Nov. 11 became officially known as Armistice Day. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 to have an annual observance on Nov 11. Legislation was passed in 1938 to make Nov. 11 a new legal holiday to honor World War I veterans. 

Because World War II and the Korean War created millions of additional war veterans, Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, in 1954. When the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress in 1968, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in Oct. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. In 1975, Pres. Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to Nov.11 because of the important historical significance of the date. Today, Veterans Day commemorates veterans of all wars on Nov. 11.

Aug. 4, 2001, the United States Senate passed Resolution 143, designating the week of Nov. 11 through Nov. 17 as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Unlike Memorial Day which honors those who have died in military service, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans who have served their country whether living or deceased. Special thanks are given to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. Every Veterans Day and Memorial Day, Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual memorial service. The cemetery is home to the graves of over 400,000 people, most of whom served in the military.

Morgan County takes great pride in the veterans. Having veterans in the schools is a long-standing tradition for Morgan School District. Monday, Nov. 6, veterans will visit Morgan Middle School classrooms.  For several years, Morgan Middle School has invited the community to participate in their Veterans Day Assembly which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 1:00. 

Mountain Green Middle School will welcome local veterans to their school to visit classrooms on Thursday, Nov. 9. Being able to visit classrooms gives the students the opportunity to interact with the veterans and allows them to ask questions.

Morgan High School will be serving breakfast to the veterans of Morgan County the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the high school beginning at 7:30. The breakfast has become an annual tradition sponsored by the SBOs.

Flags will be placed around Morgan Valley by the MHS Spirit Squad with many others posting their own flags outside their front door. 

The Morgan County News expresses its appreciation to all those veterans in Morgan County who have served in the Armed Forces. λ