Making Armistice Day a "national peace holiday" was a proposal which had the "enthusiastic approval" of all of the societies representing World War I veterans.20 In 1938, Armistice Day was already a state holiday in 44 states, and the other four stateshadmadeitaholidaybygubernatorialaction. Althoughitwasrecognizedthat Congress did not have the authority "to fix a national holiday within the different States,"21 enactment of this bill, it was felt, would bring Congress "into harmony with sentiment in the United States."22
By 1954, however, the United States had been involved in two other military engagements, World War II and the Korean conflict. Instead of creating additional federal holidays to commemorate the ending of these hostilities, Congress felt it would be better to commemorate the sacrifices of American veterans all on one day. On June 1, 1954, the name of Armistice Day was officially changed to Veterans Day.23 This legislation did not establish a new holiday. Rather, it broadened the "significance of an existing holiday in order that a grateful nation, on a day dedicated to the cause of world peace, may pay homage to all of its veterans."24
---SPSmith
No comments:
Post a Comment