What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we
have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Brother Albert Pike
have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Brother Albert Pike
Memorial Day reminds us to remember the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice
and died while serving in the Armed Forces of our country. Memorial Day is observed every year
on the last Monday of May. In 1866 Confederate Memorial Day was established as a day of
remembrance for the Southern dead and observed by most Southern States. In 1868, the Grand
Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans; similar to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, established Decoration Day to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers.
Around the turn of the 20th Century these traditions; previously celebrated on different days
merged. Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service.
and died while serving in the Armed Forces of our country. Memorial Day is observed every year
on the last Monday of May. In 1866 Confederate Memorial Day was established as a day of
remembrance for the Southern dead and observed by most Southern States. In 1868, the Grand
Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans; similar to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, established Decoration Day to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers.
Around the turn of the 20th Century these traditions; previously celebrated on different days
merged. Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service.
Known both as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The tradition of Independence Day (proper usage) celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American Independence.
Veterans Day is observed on November 11 of each year. It was originally a U.S. legal holiday to honor Armistice Day - the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In 1954, Congress, at the urging of many Veterans service organizations, struck out the word "Armistice" and inserted the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11
became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. Between 1968 and 1975, Veterans Day was
moved around on the calendar, sometimes even appearing on the last Monday of October. Finally,
on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance
of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. Veterans Day continues to
be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of
the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the
date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor all Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for their country.
became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. Between 1968 and 1975, Veterans Day was
moved around on the calendar, sometimes even appearing on the last Monday of October. Finally,
on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance
of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. Veterans Day continues to
be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of
the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the
date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor all Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for their country.