Area Veteran Groups Plan Annual Veterans Day Remembrance

Thu, 11/06/2008 - 5:25pm
By: The Citizen

Area Veteran Groups Plan Annual Veterans Day Remembrance

Members of the area’s three veteran’s organizations and the Peachtree City government will memorialize the contributions of all U.S. military veterans during the Annual Veterans Day Remembrance Saturday, Nov. 8th, 9:30 to 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Peachtree City. The Memorial is located at the flagpoles in the City Hall/Library Plaza at 151 Willow Bend Road in Peachtree City.

The event will include honors to the flag. The National Anthem will be sung acappella by Lindee Link, a local 13-year old singer and song writer. A Commemorative wreath will be presented and remain at the Memorial for the day. Taps will be played in honor of all veterans who have died.

Light refreshments will be available. Spectators are asked to either bring lawn chairs or blankets if they wish to sit during the event. Call 770-631-2542 for more information.

Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans and remember the sacrifices of those who have died. Originally called Armistice Day, it 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 World War I had been "the war to end all wars," November 11 might be still called Armistice Day. Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of World War II and Korea, Congress decided to make the day an occasion to honor all those who have served America. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. (Historically, the first Veterans Day parade was held in 1953 in Emporia, Kansas.)

A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

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