Local branches of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Boy Scouts of America will honor our nation’s veterans with flag placements at Arbor Vitae Cemetery and Courthouse Park, and a service at the park Monday.
“It’s like a memorial service for the veterans,” said John Hancock, commander of American Legion Post #11. “It’s celebrated on Veterans Day because of the 11th day of the 11th hour,” which is when combat officially stopped for World War I.
Proclaimed by President Wilson, Veterans Day originally commemorated “the heroism of those who died in the country’s service,” and the victory they thereby helped win, in World War I. Fighting ended in “the Great War” with the signing of an armistice agreement at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, 1918, and so the day was first known as Armistice Day. In 1954, the legal holiday’s name was changed to Veterans Day, and its meaning expanded to honor all U.S. veterans.
“We want everyone who would like to attend to be there,” said Hancock. “If they’ve got any friends or relatives in the service they know what the veterans have contributed.” ...