Show How It If Came Veterans Day By Dy changing one word In a year 28 old resolution the United States Congress Congress Congress Con Con- gress in 1954 renamed the day this nation nation nation na na- na- na tion had traditionally set aside for honoring honoring hon hon- oring its war veterans On June 1 1954 Congress acting on ona ona onn a n proposal made by Representative Edwin K K Rees of Kansas changed armistice day to Veterans Day ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE was added to Veterans Day in 1958 when I two vo more unidentified American war dead were brought to Arlington Cemetery Cemetery tery from overseas and interred beside the World War I soldier one was killed killed kill kill- ed in World War II the other in Korea Kor Kor- ea To honor the three symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives a US U.S. Army honor guard- guard the First Battalion Third Infantry Old keeps Guard day and night vigil The tribute honors those who have died in all US U.S. wars Fighting in World War I had end ended d at 11 am a.m. on November 11 1918 Two years later France and England chose November November November Nov Nov- ember 11 then known universally as armistice day as the time for placing an unknown soldier of that war in each nations nation's highest place of honor France chose the Arch De Tri mu ph England selected Westminister Abbey The following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing year on November 11 1921 an American soldier whose name was Known only to God was buried at Arlington National IN 1926 Armistice Day was made the official name for November 11 11 Twelve years later in 1938 another Congressional al resolution made the date a national r holiday If the idealistic hope had been realIzed realized realized real real- that World War I was The War to end all Wars November 11 might still be called Armistice Day But Dut only two years after the holiday was World Warr II broke out in Europe and shattered the dream Sixteen and one half million Americans took part Four hundred and six and died The families and friends of these dead longed for a way to honor their memory The resolution introduced by Congressman provided the answer When President Eisenhower signed the bill proclaiming November 11 Veterans Veterans Vet Vet- erans Day he called for Americans everywhere everywhere everywhere ev ev- to rededicate themselves to t the e cause of peace lIe He proclaimed the day dayan an occasion oc-casion for honoring Veterans of all wars a group that numbers more than 39 million of whom more than millions arc are still alive Living Veterans and their families plus the living dependents dependents dependents de de- de- de of deceased Veterans made up about one half the of the United States THE Congress passed legislation in 1968 to change the observance of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October The president signed Public Law 90 into law on June 28 1968 1908 Focal point for Veterans Day observances observances vances continue to be the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater built around the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Arling Arling- ton National The site established established in 1864 and now operated by bythe bythe bythe the Department of Defense lies on oft property property pro pro- perty that once belonged to General Robert Robert Robert Ro Ro- Ro- Ro bert E. E Lee AT 11 U AM A.M. on the fourth Monday in each October a combined color guard representing all military services presents presents presents pre pre- Arms at the tomb of the Unknown soldier The Nations Nation's tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a Presidential Wreath The bugler sounds Taps The balance of the ceremony ceremony cere cere- mony which includes a brief address takes place at the Amphitheater Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington and elsewhere in the nation are arc coordinated coordinated coordinated by the Presidents President's Veterans Day National Committee Chaired by the Administrator of Veterans the Affairs group has all executive committee which included representative of 10 National Veterans Organizations i |