Remember Veterans Day Today !!

Although most government employees will be enjoying their Veterens Day holiday tomorrow, today is the official Veterens Day, originally known as Armistace Day. At 1 pm today, Sunday,Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join Sen. Ted Lieu and Mayor Mike Gin at Redondo Beach €™s Veterans Day observance at Veterans Park. Please at least pause for a few moments today to remember and honor our veterans who have fought so valiantly over the years to keep us safe and secure.

HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY

World War I, then normally referred to simply as The Great War 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.

On November 11, 1919, President Wilson proclaimed 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.

Congress passes legislation on May 13, 1938 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.

On June 1, 1954 ,President Eisenhower signs legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day. From 1971 to 1978, Veterans day was observed on the fourth monday of October, but in 1978, the observance of Veterans Day was returned to November 11th.

Federal Government offices are closed on November 11. If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, they are closed on Friday November 10. If Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, they are closed on Monday November 12.

As a Federal Holiday, All City, county, federal and state offices, animal shelters, courts and libraries will be closed and the U.S. Postal Service will not deliver mail on Monday November 12th.