November 11 Lindy Edition: Veterans Day

TGIF, Lindy! Here’s what you need to know:

1. First some facts about Veterans Day, from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp):

• Today is Veterans Day, a day Americans honor all veterans. It’s historical significance dates back to World War I. 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.”
• In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
• The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926.
• Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954 it amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans, " making November 11 the day to honor American veterans of all wars.
• The Uniform Holiday Bill was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day.
• The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens.
• So on September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law that 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, and helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

2. Locally, there will be several closings, including:

• Babylon
• Arts Center
• Schools
• OLPH
• (To learn more about our local veterans, read this Lindenhurst Patch article, , and visit the LML website here.)

3. There will also be no events at:

• Loyal Order of Moose Lodge
• Knights of Columbus-OLPH Council

4. However, on the Knights of Columbus-OLPH Council calendar today:

• Chapter Meeting, Sacred Heart, Central Islip, 7 p.m.

5. Other events include:

• Veterans' Awareness Week, Town of
• , till November 13, Lighthouse on the Bay, ; here
• Lindenhurst Rotary Club Coat Drive, , November 7 to January 31; details
• See also: