“The living owe it to those who no
longer can speak to tell their story for them.”
– Czeslaw Milosz
With
that quote in mind, I write this brief note today about Veterans Day and to
accompany this photo from my recent trip to Emporia, Kansas.
First celebrated as Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of
World War I, today’s observance as “Veterans Day” is due to the efforts of
Alvin King of Emporia, who thought the day shouldn’t just honor the end of the
first great war but should, instead, honor all U.S. veterans for their
sacrifice and service.
He was particularly moved to do something after his nephew
died during World War II and he wanted to be sure that he and his comrades were
not forgotten. King’s idea
caught fire in Emporia, which on Nov. 11, 1953, observed "Veterans" Day while
the rest of the country still celebrated Armistice Day.
U.S. Rep. Ed
Rees, also from Emporia, supported King’s idea and introduced a bill to officially
change the name. It was signed into law
by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who also grew up in Kansas. King was on hand at the White House when Ike
signed the bill – wearing his one-and-only suit, purchased for him by grateful
veterans of both World War II and Korea.
All of the United
States joined in celebrating that first national Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 1954.
When King died in 1960, he was buried
in that suit he wore to the White House ceremony. In 2003, Congress adopted a resolution declaring
Emporia as “The founding city of Veterans Day,” and recognizing King as the
Day’s founder.
Just one more quote to
commemorate as well as provide a thought for the day. "As
we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is
not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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