The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, as a way to augment naval forces in the Revolutionary War. The recruiting station was set up in Philadelphia which is considered to be the birthplace of the Marines. The Corps was abolished at the end of the Revolutionary Way. On July 11, 1798, Congress ordered the creation of the Corps again, naming it the Marine Corps and directing that it be available under the Secretary of the Navy. The Corps celebrated its birthday on July 11, until 1921 when the date was changed to November 10, to commemorate the establishment of the original Corps during the Revolutionary War.
World War I ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice was reached between the Allies and Germany. The armistice went into effect on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. November 11, 1918, was regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson declared November 11, as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, as it came to be known. “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
November 11 became a legal holiday known as Armistice Day in 1938. It was a day to honor Veterans of World War I.
In 1954, after World War II, Congress proclaimed that Armistice Day would be known as Veterans Day and would be a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. On October 8, President Eisenhower issued the Veterans Day Proclamation. In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Bill was signed which designated Veterans Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day and Columbus Day as a day off for Federal employees. It was thought that a three-day weekend would encourage travel, recreational activities, and commercial production.
After passage of this law, the first Veterans Day under the law was celebrated on October 25, with much confusion as to the date. President Ford signed a law returning Veterans Day to November 11.
This week’s Graves of the Week are an homage to just a few World War I survivors buried in our cemeteries. Please tag a Veteran and share any stories of the courageous men and women who fight to make this country great.
Message if you know anyone who should be featured on Grave of the Week. Please include any information about the person’s life and where the grave is located.
Please continue to like, share, and follow the Exeter Cemetery District and thank you to Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Kiwanis, Kiwanis Club Of Farmersville, Kiwanis of Woodlake, The Sun-Gazette Newspaper for sharing
