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 The
City of Burbank
Celebrates
Veterans
Day
November 11, is the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in the
Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending World War
I, after four years of conflict.
At 5 A.M. on Monday, November 11, 1918 the Germans signed the Armistice, an
order was issued for all firing to cease; so the hostilities of the First
World War ended. This day began with the laying down of arms, blowing of
whistles, impromptu parades, closing of places of business. All over the
globe there were many demonstrations; no doubt the world has never before
witnessed such rejoicing.
In November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day
proclamation. The last paragraph set the tone for future observances:
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 nation.
In 1927 Congress issued a resolution requesting President Calvin Coolidge to
issue a proclamation calling upon officials to display the Flag of the
United States on all government buildings on November 11, and inviting the
people to observe the day in schools and churches...But it was not until
1938 that Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "shall be dedicated
to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter celebrated and known as
Armistice Day."
That same year President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making the day
a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For sixteen years the United
States formally observed Armistice Day, with impressive ceremonies at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Chief Executive or his representative
placed a wreath. In many other communities, the American Legion was in
charge of the observance, which included parades and religious services. At
11 A.M. all traffic stopped, in tribute to the dead, then volleys were fired
and taps sounded.
After World War II, there were many new veterans who had little or no
association with World War I. The word, "armistice," means simply a truce;
therefore as years passed, the significance of the name of this holiday
changed. Leaders of Veterans' groups decided to try to correct this and make
November 11 the time to honor all who had fought in various American wars,
not just in World War I.
In Emporia, Kansas, on November 11, 1953, instead of an Armistice Day
program, there was a Veterans' Day observance. Ed Rees, of Emporia, was so
impressed that he introduced a bill into the House to change the name to
Veterans' Day. After this passed, Mr. Rees wrote to all state governors and
asked for their approval and cooperation in observing the changed holiday.
The name was changed to Veterans' Day by Act of Congress on May 24, 1954. In
October of that year, President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe
the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly,
and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace. The
President referred to the change of name to Veterans' Day in honor of the
servicemen of all America's wars.
Excerpts from All About American Holidays by Mayme R. Krythe.
The Story of the Unknown Soldier
Armistice Day was observed all over the United States by veteran's parades,
public services both religious and secular, with two minutes of silence to
honor the dead. In 1920, the British Unknown Soldier was buried in
Westminster Abbey, the burial place of kings and queens; that same year a
French Unknown Soldier was interred at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where a
perpetual flame burns. In 1921, the American Unknown Soldier, symbolizing
all the unknown dead, was chosen in an unusual way. Six soldiers of the
American Army of Occupation in Germany were selected from different sectors
to act as pallbearers. They met at Chalons-sur-Marne, and were interviewed
by General Rogers. Next day, Sergeant Edward F. Younger of the 59th Infantry
was asked to make a choice among four caskets, with unidentified bodies
disinterred from American cemeteries at Bony, Belleau Wood, Romagne, and
Thiaucourt. When the sergeant was ready to perform his solemn duty, he
received a bouquet of white roses, with instructions to proceed into the
City Hall at Chalons, where the four caskets stood. Sergeant Younger
realized fully the grave importance of his action; and after bowing his
head, he walked around the coffins three times. On the fourth round, he
seemed involuntarily drawn to the second one. Reverently, he laid the roses
on it, saluted and reported to his commanding officer that he had
accomplished his mission. The body of the Unknown Soldier was brought home
on the cruiser, Olympia, reaching Washington, D.C., on November 9, 1921. For
three days thousands of people passed by as the body lay in state in the
rotunda of the Capitol. For this important Armistice Day in 1921, President
Harding requested that flags be flown from sunrise to sunset at half mast,
and that all Americans pay silent tribute as the casket was lowered into the
tomb at 11 A.M. on November 11, 1921. There were elaborate ceremonies. High
army, navy, and other service personnel, along with diplomats, who had
followed the caisson to Arlington, heard the President's address. Many
wreaths came from all over our country, and from abroad, these were placed
on the plain white marble tomb, on which is these words:
Here rests in honored glory An American Soldier Known but to God.
Ref: Veterans association
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