History of Veterans Day

One of the more important national holidays and observances in the United States is Veterans Day, or as it was originally known, Armistice Day. For years school children were taught, “Eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour” and families would gather silently and respectfully at that time every year. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of 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 a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved on May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I. Not long after this proclamation established the legal holiday war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and a half million Americans became involved.

Following World War II, a veteran by the name of Raymond Weeks organized the 1st celebration of Veterans Day in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947. This led to US Rep/ Kansas, Edward Rees to propose a bill in Congress to honor all veterans. In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans’ service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued thefirst “Veterans Day Proclamation”which stated: «In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans› organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans› Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.» In November 1982, President Reagan awarded Raymond Weeks the Presidential Citizens Medal.

www.va.gov

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Many of these are great trails for families and you will want to pack your binoculars and take photos of the foliage and vistas.

A recent development by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy is the Van Scott Nature Reserve at Beach Lake.

(source: www.DelawareHighlands.org )

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce that the 144-acre Van Scott Nature Reserve in Beach Lake, Berlin Township, PA is open to the public.

Generously donated to the Conservancy by the Van Scott family in May 2020, theVan Scott Nature Reserveis the new headquarters of the Conservancy and a welcoming, accessible place for people of all ages to learn about, explore, and enjoy nature.

The Reserve features more thanthree miles of publicly accessible walking trailsthrough the forest, wildflower meadows, and wetlands and will be home to the Conservancy’s year-round educational programming, including nature walks, forestry and land management workshops, demonstration projects, and winter Eagle Watch. The property features scenic views to the southern Catskill Mountains in New York State and to High Point State Park in New Jersey.

Centrally located within the Upper Delaware River region, the Van Scott Nature Reserve is a destination for residents and visitors that reflects our unique rural character and the needs of the local community.

A former dairy farm, the property incorporates diverse habitats with abundant opportunities for conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation on self-guided trails, including large open meadows, forested areas, two ponds, a tributary to Beach Lake Creek, and wetlands. Other farm structures will be adapted over time for new and enhanced educational programming.

As the stewards of this historic dairy farm, the Conservancy will honor the land and the families who farmed it for generations while welcoming the public to visit, learn about the natural world and our shared local history, and explore nature. The Conservancy has launched a $5 million capital campaign to support the future of the Reserve. “We are inspired by the Van Scott family’s commitment to conservation, environmental education, and sustainability,” stated Executive Director Diane Rosencrance. “We look forward to fully realizing their vision for this property and to welcoming the public to experience this beautiful natural area.” The Reserve will be open from sunrise to sunset every day, unless otherwise noted. To help protect sensitive wildlife habitat, dogs are not allowed on the Reserve. More information about the property, including the completeReserve Rulesand adownloadable trail map, is available atwww.DelawareHighlands.org/vsnr. Trail maps may also be picked up at the trailhead kiosks.