Remembering Nov 11th

[teamzr1]

1918​

World War I, then normally referred to simply as The Great War (no one could imagine any war being greater!), ended with the implementation of an armistice [temporary cessation of hostilities-in this case until the final peace treaty, the infamous Treaty of Versailles, was signed in 1919] between the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November 1918.

1919​

November 11: President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the following words: "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 nations." The original concept for the celebration was for the suspension of business for a two-minute period beginning at 11 A.M., with the day also marked by parades and public mettings

1920
​

On the second anniversary of the armistice, France and the United Kingdom hold ceremonies honoring their unknown dead from the war. In America, at the suggestion of church groups, President Wilson names the Sunday nearest Armistice Day Sunday, on which should be held services in the interest of international peace.

1921​

Congress passes legislation approving the establishment of a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. November 11 is chosen for the date of the ceremony. According to October 20, Congress declares November 11, 1921, a legal Federal holiday to honor all those who participated in the war.
The ceremony was conducted with great success.

1926
​

Congress adopts a resolution directing the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the observance of Armistice Day. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, most states establish November 11 as a legal holiday and at the Federal level, an annual proclamation is issued by the President

1938
​

Congress passes legislation on May 13 making November 11 a legal Federal holiday, Armistice Day.
The United States has no 'actual' national holidays because the states retain the right to designate their own holidays. The Federal government can in fact only designate holidays for Federal employees and for the District of Columbia. But in practice, the states almost always follow the Federal lead in designation of holidays.

1941- 1945
1950- 1953​

World War II and the Korean War create millions of additional war veterans, in addition to those of the First World War already honored by Armistice Day.

1954
​

On June 1, President Eisenhower signs legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

1968​

Congress passes the Monday Holiday Law, which established the fourth Monday in October as the new date for the observance of Veteran's Day. The law is to take effect in 1971.

1971-1975​

The Federal observance of Veterans Day is held on the fourth Monday of October. Initially all states follow suit except Mississippi and South Dakota. Other states changed their observances back to November 11 as follows: 1972- Louisiana and Wisconsin; 1974- Kentucky, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, West Virginia; 1975- California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming

1975​

Legislation passed to return the Federal observance of Veteran's Day to November 11, based on popular support throughout the nation. Since the change to the fourth Monday in October, 46 states had either continued to commemorate November 11 or had reverted back to the original date based on popular sentiment. The law was to take effect in 1978.

1978​

Veteran's Day observance reverts to November 11.

 

[teamzr1]

Happy 248th Birthday, Marines! Semper Fidelis!​

There are few dates that are as significant to an individual as their own birthday or the birthday of a loved one. But ask any United States Marine the significance of 10 November and you’ll likely get something like “Yut!”, “Tun Tavern!” (the birthplace of the Marine Corps), “Oorah!” or “Semper Fi!” (latin for “always faithful”) as a response.
Marines are incredibly proud of their history and truly know how to celebrate the 10 November 1775 birth of one of the “most elite fighting forces in the world!”
I know my time serving as an infantryman with 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Camp Lejeune, NC and in Afghanistan will forever be looked back on as some of the most developmental and impactful years of my life.

Unfortunately, in 2021, the Marine Corps’ 246th Commandant Birthday celebration was cancelled due to COVID.

And this year, with the Commandant hospitalized due to reportedly suffering a “cardiac arrest”, the CENTCOM (Middle-East theatre) Marine Corps celebration has been cancelled due to “unforeseen operational commitments”. ! (BS !)

There will still be (and have been) celebrations taking place across the country as crowds of Marines, their families, and their beloved Navy Corpsmen gather in their own communities to celebrate.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passes a resolution stating that “two Battalions of Marines be raised” for service as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy.

The resolution, drafted by future U.S. president John Adams and adopted in Philadelphia, created the Continental Marines and is now observed as the birthdate of the United States Marine Corps.
Serving on land and at sea, the original U.S. Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important operations during the Revolutionary War. The first Marine landing on a hostile shore occurred when a force of Marines under Captain Samuel Nicholas captured New Providence Island in the Bahamas from the British in March 1776. Nicholas was the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines and is celebrated as the first Marine commandant.

After American independence was achieved in 1783, the Continental Navy was demobilized and its Marines disbanded.

In the next decade, however, increasing conflict at sea with Revolutionary France led the U.S. Congress to establish formally the U.S. Navy in May 1798. Two months later, on July 11, President John Adams signed the bill establishing the U.S. Marine Corps as a permanent military force under the jurisdiction of the Department of Navy. U.S. Marines saw action in the so-called Quasi-War with France and then fought against the Barbary pirates of North Africa during the first years of the 19th century
Since then, Marines have participated in all the wars of the United States, and in most cases were the first soldiers to fight. In all, Marines have executed more than 300 landings on foreign shores.

Today, there are more than 200,000 active-duty and reserve Marines, divided into four divisions stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Okinawa, Japan.
Each division has one or more expeditionary units, ready to launch major operations anywhere in the world on two weeks’ notice. The motto of the service is Semper Fidelis, meaning “Always Faithful” in Latin.

As is tradition in the Marine Corps, the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps address Marines, past and present, followed by the traditional cake-cutting, where the oldest Marine cuts the first piece and hands it to the youngest Marine as a symbol that “every Marine is equal.”

 

[Nassau65]

My next door neighbours son joined the Marines at 18. “Oorah “