Citrus Heights Veterans Day Ceremony
The Sylvan Cemetery, which is located at 7501 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights, will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. It will begin at 11:00 a.m.
The ceremony is organized by the American Legion, California District 6. It is an annual event that salutes the more than 35 million men and women who have served our country in military service since 1775.
There will be a commemoration of approximately one hour in the gazebo as well as a march through the cemetery grounds. Patriotic songs will be presented by Tom Galovich. A representative from the Citrus Heights Police Department is expected to be in attendance to serve as Honor Guard.
There will be no mandatory seating arrangements, but there will be folding chairs available at the event for guests who would like to sit. The organizers request that attendees bring masks and abide by social distancing guidelines.
Veterans Day Was Once Known as Armistice Day
Veterans Day was once known as Armistice Day. The definition of “armistice” is an agreement between warring parties to stop fighting, although it does not necessarily signify the end of a war.
On November 11, 1921, an American soldier of unknown identity was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. That gravesite, which is located on a hillside that overlooks Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, became an important symbol of remembrance and reverence for American veterans.
Similar ceremonies had previously taken place in England and France. An unknown soldier had been buried in each country’s location of highest honor – the Arc de Triomphe in France and Westminster Abbey in England. All of these memorials took place on November 11th, which gave recognition to the recognized ending of World War I, which was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The day became known as Armistice Day.
In 1926, the United States officially recognized Armistice Day through a Congressional Resolution, and it became a National holiday 12 years later through similar Congressional action. At the time, there was an idealistic hope that World War I had been the war that would end all wars. If that had held true, November 11th might still be known as Armistice Day.
Unfortunately, a short few years after the National holiday was officially recognized, war broke out in Europe. Approximately 16,500,000 Americans took part in what became World War II, and more than 292,000 men were killed in battle.
Armistice Day Becomes Veterans Day
On November 11, 1947, Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized a parade and celebration using the term “Veterans Day” in Birmingham, Alabama. The intention was to honor all veterans, not just those who had fought in World War I. Following the Birmingham celebration, United States Representative Edward Rees of Kansas authored a bill to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The bill passed Congress in 1954 and was signed into law by President Eisenhower.
Raymond Weeks became the 1982 recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal. His local ceremony and parade became models for Veterans Day events that are held annually nationwide.
Watch the YouTube video posted by The History Channel with more information on Veterans Day.
Citrus Heights Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading our blog. I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury attorney in Citrus Heights, California. The roads and highways around our region see a high number of collisions. If you have been injured in a car crash that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be able to recover monetary damages. An experienced Sacramento car accident law firm can help. My legal team is readily available to offer free and friendly advice. Please reach out to one of our case managers or injury attorneys at (916) 921-6400. If you will be calling from outside the 916 area code, dial toll-free at (800) 404-5400. My website also has an option for you to communicate with us online.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/veteran-flag-child-hand-american-2698167/
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