In Commemoration: Proclamation 3071—Veteran's Day, 1954

 

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The 20th century was one at war--at war with itself, and among a significant portion of social, ethnic, religious, and cultural collectives.  It was a century of efficient violence in the service of higher causes at a time when the battle over the supremacy of those causes, and its effects on the constructions of hierarchies of authority, continue to mark the world order. The United States was drawn into this century long warring and ultimately served as a critical actor in the efforts to construct global structures to manage, if not eliminate, warfare. In the process this Republic has called on its own people to defend the nation in the way such defense is understood by our nation's leaders over the course of the century, and then to defend the system the United States helped build in an effort to end a century of remarkable violence. Half way through this century, what had been Armistice Day was broadened in recognition of the reality that the Republic had asked much sacrifice and would likely continue to ask for sacrifice in the service of the nation and its vision for a more peaceful world. To honor that sacrifice and to recognize its official constitution it may be useful to revisit and to reflect on the first proclamation of Veterans Day issued, as would seem appropriate for a century characterized by war, by a U.S. President who earlier has served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force after 1943.

 

Proclamation 3071—Veteran's Day, 1954

October 08, 1954

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whereas it has long been our custom to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and

Whereas in the intervening years the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; and

Whereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351), that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; and

Whereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain. I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.

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.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

By the President:

JOHN FOSTER DULLES,

Secretary of State

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Proclamation 3071—Veteran's Day, 1954 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/308210