It’s time to Break It Down!
A week ago yesterday, America experienced an historic election. As I opined last week, the vast majority of the results gave been determined. In what pundits are calling a Blue Tsunami, Americans voted in unanticipated numbers for a midterm, and they voted overwhelmingly for Democrats. So much so, until Democrats netted over 40 additional House seats, at least 7 Senate seats, with two still outstanding (Mississippi and Alaska). Democrats are currently leading in both and have a chance to raise their net to 9. In addition, Dems rolled to wins in Governorships, where they now have 29, and a small lead in a 30th. They were able to flip numerous state legislatures.
Interestingly, in past years, Republicans have complained vociferously about the length of time it took California, and frankly any Blue state to count votes, if the results were not known by the end of Election Day. This year, two Red States, Mississippi and Alaska still have outstanding races. Do you know what I haven’t heard? I haven’t heard a single Republican from Donald Trump to Don on Main Street complain about those Elections not being called yet. Do you know why? Because with their candidates trailing, as long as the Election hasn’t been called, they still have a chance, even if it’s an outside one, to overtake the lead and win the races. But I digress.
Seventeen years ago, I wrote a post in recognition of Veteran’s Day, and the service personnel we as a nation honor on that day. In 2009, and again in 2015 when I reprised this post, Veterans Day fell on Wednesday. In 2018, the day fell on Sunday. In 2019, on Monday, in 2020, on Wednesday, in 2021, on Thursday, and in 2022, Friday, 2023, Saturday, and 2024, Monday. Today is Veterans Day. Because of that, I decided once more to edit/re-post the Veteran’s Day Edition of “Break It Down!”
That also means, back to my holiday norm. Many of you may know, or at least faintly recall that I usually alter the blog format to integrate holiday traditions into the discussion. Often holidays are expanded by days away from work, long weekends, travel, and a host of leisure activities. In those cases, I prefer to scale back in recognition that aside from road map directions, GPS instructions, and the like, most of us do very little reading.
As most Americans know, this year marked the 108-year Anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I, AKA “The Great War,” and/or “The War That Ended All Wars.” Never mind the irony of the war we are currently embroiled in.
At first, the occasion was known as Armistice Day. It later became known as Veterans Day. But what do we really know about this day that has been set aside to honor real American heroes and sheroes?
Well, first, Veterans Day is not Memorial Day, and vice-versa. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day is intended largely to honor Living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty. Memorial Day honors those veterans who died in the service of their country, particularly those killed in combat, or because of wounds sustained in battle.
We also know that Veterans Day is a different kind of federal holiday. Except for Sundays, it falls on its actual date. In 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This law, which took effect in 1971, amended the observance of certain federal holidays so that Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day would be observed on Mondays instead of on fixed dates.
Congress passed the Act to increase the number of three-day holiday weekends for federal employees. After a loud and persistent outcry from Veterans and Veterans’ groups, who argued the historical significance of November 11th was compromised by the change, Veterans Day observance was returned to November 11th in 1978.
So how did this affinity for November 11th come about? As with many historical facts, it evolved. As noted earlier, Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. The significance of Armistice Day is that it was the day of the signing of the Armistice that terminated World War I (WW I). In effect, WW I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That was when the Germans signed the document, ending hostilities that had begun in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently proclaimed the first Armistice Day, November 11, 1919.
WW I was deemed The Great War, and was thought by many, at the time, to be “The War That Ended All Wars.” It was, as the numeric designation suggests, the First World War. Of course, more wars would ensue. There was World War II (WW II), later the Korean Conflict, and then Vietnam. The U.S. has subsequently been involved in war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now in Iran. And that doesn’t begin to account for all the wars, real or imaginary, that Mr. Trump has credited himself with ending, in his self-initiating quest to validate his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1953, a storeowner in Emporia, Kansas, Al King, launched an idea to honor all Veterans, not just those who served in WW I. The idea took root, sailed through Congress, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law May 26, 1954. Congress amended the Act November 8, 1954, changing Armistice to Veterans, and thus it has been ever since.
So now, especially remember…”The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month Redux ‘26!” To amend and augment a popular bumper sticker, “If you can read this, thank a teacher”…and a veteran.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.
To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right-hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.
