Happy Veterans Day Tallahassee

West Point "Cadet" Joe Manausa in 1986

Tomorrow, Veterans Day in Tallahassee will be observed with the closing of schools, the CENTURY 21 real estate office, and many places of work, so I thought I would take the opportunity to remind everybody about the importance of this day of remembrance.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. This new holiday was to remember the end of the “War To End All Wars” where a cease-fire had been initiated on November 11, 1918,  “Armistice Day”, and served to honor all soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, both past and present, who serve our great nation.

Later, an Act 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.

How You Can Observe Veterans Day In Tallahassee

Tomorrow, on this day of remembrance, I would challenge everyone to reach out to a veteran and personally thank them for their service.  Better yet, dig into your pocket and give to one of the fine institutions such as the USO or the American Legion, which provide support services to our military and veterans.