Veterans Day Proclamation
“ NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2023, as Veterans Day.”
The day was first celebrated as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, formally recognized on the “11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month” in 1918, a date agreed upon by warring nations as an official end to World War I.
Party / Club Veterans
Captain Cynthia Sanders, U.S. Air Force
Mr. Bill Walston
Mr Kenneth Freeman
Mr. Dustin Stephens
Dr Shirley McKellar, U.S. Army
To request updates & additions to this list, please email our office.
November 11th became an official national holiday in the United States in 1938.
A US Congressional Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved May 13, 1938, making 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.
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.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls.
Veterans Day is different than Memorial Day, a date normally reserved to honor those who have died in service to our nation, and Armed Forces Day, a date we recognize for paying tribute to members of our Armed Forces.
To our Veterans, especially those in Smith County and to those who are Democrats… today, we take a moment to say,
“Thank you for your sacrifices, for your service, your valor, for the things you carry, for protecting us, and for defending our rights. Thank you for your courage, strength and dedication in keeping us safe and being willing to defend the liberties that we all enjoy.”
Legally, two minutes of silence is recommended to be observed at specific times on the 11th day of November each year. In 2021, the US Congress passed a federal law, “[USC02] 36 USC 145: Veterans Day” requiring the President of the US to ask all citizens of the US to spend two minutes honoring American Military Vets.
Two minutes is a long time, but not really, when you consider the time spent on a remote guard post, or standing watch on a ship in the middle of an ocean, or the time it takes to take a beach under gunfire, or the time it takes to launch a bomber on a mission, knowing it might not come back.
Passed By County Executive Committee, November 2023
