Honored Veterans and their Family History -
Veterans Day
An Act (52
Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved
May 13, 1938, made 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, but 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.
Later that same year,
on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued
the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In
order to insure proper and widespread observance of this
anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations,
and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the
common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a
Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include
such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which
will coordinate at the national level necessary planning
for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of
all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of
the Government to assist the National Committee in every
way possible."
On that same day, the
President sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V.
Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA),
designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National
Committee. In 1958, the White House advised VA's
General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA
Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National
Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators.
Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level
department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served
as the committee's chairman.
The Uniforms Holiday
Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on
June 28, 1968, and was intended to insure three-day
weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four
national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday,
Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was
thought that these extended weekends would encourage
travel, recreational and cultural activities and
stimulate greater industrial and commercial production.
Many states did not agree with this decision and
continued to celebrate the holidays on their original
dates.
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, and so on September 20th, 1975, President
Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479),
which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to
its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978.
This action supported the desires of the overwhelming
majority of state legislatures, all major veterans
service organizations and the American people.
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 America's veterans
for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness
to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Click here to go to the Veterans Day home
page
Honored Veterans and their Family
There are veteran's
resources that can help Veterans of wars cope with
a myriad of
thoughts and feelings.
Services and
recognition of sacrifices made by veterans continue the legacy
for healing and managing heroic, life
changing
experiences.
Honoring
Veterans
-
Website
Links
Stay
Informed
-
Take
Action
After
reading
this
page,
you
decide
and
click
on
the
following
resources:
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Consider these statistics from the 11/6/08 edition of National Alliance on Mental Health:
- Nearly 33 percent of those who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan will experience mental health issues.
- In 2007, the suicide rate among veterans who served in the US Army was at an all-time high.
- Approximately 40 percent of all homeless veterans live with mental illnesses.
- Nearly 57 percent of this aforementioned group are African American or Hispanic veterans.
- Approximately 30 percent of veterans treated in the Veterans health system experienced depressive symptoms, two to three times the rate of the general population.
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National
Mental Health Association -
Mental Health America
In the face of stress, some
people will maintain their
routines to achieve a sense
of control and to distract
themselves, and others will
have difficulty focusing for
some time. Both reactions
are common responses to this
situation. Because everybody
experiences stress
differently, don’t compare
your “progress” with those
around you or judge other
people’s reactions and
emotions.
Veterans, Families and Friends Coping With Stress
En Espanol -
Mental Health America
expresa su gratitud a los
valerosos militares que han
perdido sus vidas y ofrece
sus condolencias a sus
familiares.
Guía Para el Regreso al
Hogar, Veteranos y
Familiares (PDF file)
Esta guía ha sido
desarrollada para asistir a
cada Veterano y sus
familiares en examinar los
cambios que
han ocurrido durante el
proceso de servicio militar.
Esta guía también
proporciona información
sobre las
cuestiones típicas y retas
normales asociado con el
regreso al hogar.
Department of
Labor
Employers and jobseekers can
find the services they need
at a convenient One-Stop
Career Center. Or find other
service provider locations
relevant to employment,
training, and economic
development. Choose a search
type and enter a zip code to
find local services near
you. Or just pick up the
phone and dial
1-877-US2-JOBS for direct
assistance Career
Locator for Employers and
Service Men, Women and
Family Members
The
Department
of
Labor’s
Veterans’
Employment
and
Training
Service
provides
this
guide
to
enhance
the
public’s
access
to
information
about
the
application
of
the
Uniformed
Services
Employment
and
Reemployment
Rights
Act
(USERRA)
in
various
circumstances.
Aspects
of
the
law
may
change
over
time.
Every
effort
will
be
made
to
keep
the
information
provided
up-to-date.
USERRA
applies
to
virtually
all
employers,
including
the
Federal
Government.
While
the
information
presented
herein
applies
primarily
to
private
employers,
there
are
parallel
provisions
in
the
statute
that
apply
to
Federal
employers.
Specific
questions
should
be
addressed
to
the
State
director
of
the
Veterans’
Employment
and
Training
Service
listed
in
the
government
section
of
the
telephone
directory
under
U.S.
Department
of
Labor.
Veterans Department of Labor
The
Vietnam Veterans of America . . .
have over 700 Chapters throughout the United
States for helping veterans, their families and
their communities. If you are interested in
contacting them to become a volunteer, member or
simply want more information call the
Not-for-Profit National Veterans Service
Organization National Hotline:
888-678-8387 or speak with
Connie, the N.Y.S. District Director 516-822-5938
Visit us on the WEB: www.vva.org
The
Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall: http://www.virtualwall.org/
The Department of Veterans
Affairs
Supplies free benefit information and services for
qualifying veterans.
http://www.va.gov/
For
more
information:
Contact
Your
EAP
Article
Reviewed:
2008-6-11 |
