The history of Veterans Day begins on Nov. 11, 1918 — the day Germany signed an armistice with the Allied nations temporarily ceasing hostilities in World War I.

The armistice went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

The war ended, officially, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919 — seven months later.

Since that day, the holiday has gone through a few changes but it remains a special time to recognize the proud men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have sacrificed and still are making sacrifices to preserve the freedoms and principles of this country.

In observance of Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, events have been slated in Union to celebrate those who have given so much for their country.

Union American Legion to hold 2009 Veterans Day Dinner

American Legion Post 22 in Union will hold its annual Veterans Day dinner for Post members, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Park Lodge.

Event organizers plan to have an electric cart to transport any who need assistance from the parking lot and up the hill to the lodge. Those members of Post 22 who are shut-ins are asked to call Commander Paul Davis at 427-0654 as soon as possible to have a meal hand-delivered Wednesday afternoon.

No tickets are required but Post 22 members are asked to bring their current membership card to expedite the check-in process. Members who are not current or people who desire to become new members can pay for membership at the door.

Any Post 22 member can also bring one guest at no charge.

Guest speaker for the dinner will be Cecil Phillips, currently First Vice Commander of The American Legion, Department of South Carolina, who will become Commander during 2010-11.

Phillips is a U.S. Navy veteran who graduated from Charlotte Business College following his stint in the military. He is currently employed with AbitibiBowater as a senior systems administrator and is a 24 year member of American Legion Post 34 in Rock Hill. Phillips also has served in numerous other military and civic organizations in York County.

He is past chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and current chairman of the Internal Affairs Subcommittees of The American Legion Department of South Carolina.

Union Workforce Center to honor veterans Nov. 9-13

Veterans are invited to join the Union Workforce Center at 440 Duncan Bypass and its staff from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, for a reception and drop-in that will highlight a week of events planned to honor veterans.

Light refreshments will be served Tuesday and a presentation which honors veterans’ years of service will be made. Veterans also can use this time to network with each other and obtain valuable information to enhance their job-seeking skills.

Union WFC officials will be on hand throughout the week — except Wednesday as the office will be closed in observance of Veterans Day — to present an introduction to the SC Joblink and will also present valuable tips on preparing a resume, filling out online applications and a variety job-search options.

Veterans can also sign up for individual sessions with the Union WFC veteran’s representative who will cover the variety of services offered at the center on a daily basis.

For more information, contact WFC Assistant Area Director Irvin Goodwin or Area Director Gus Soto at (864) 427-5672.

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT?

If you have a Veterans Day event planned be sure to inform us here at The Union Daily Times so we can let the community know about it. You can call us at 427-1234, email us at nchristophel@uniondailytimes.com or visit our page on Facebook to let us know.

MORE VETERANS DAY BACKGROUND:

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original concept of the celebration was for a day with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. An Act approved May 13, 1938, by Congress made Nov. 11 each year a legal holiday — a day 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 and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, Congress 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 on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. The Uniform Holiday Bill was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays — Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day. 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 Oct. 25, 1971. On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law returning Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11 beginning in 1978.

SOURCE: United States Department of Veterans Affairs