Since Veterans’ Day is this coming Monday, I thought it fitting to include a little history on the holiday and its origin.
Veterans’ Day was originally called Armistice Day, and the date was chosen for its symbolic significance, November 11 was intended to observe the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which marked the armistice of World War I.
The first Armistice Day in the U.S. occurred on November 11, 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson declared that “to us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory. …”
Armistice Day was declared a legal holiday by Congress nearly 20 years later. In 1954 the name was changed to Veterans’ Day, following a national campaign to have the day honor all veterans, not just those who served in World War I.
Veterans’ Day is still celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and other past and present nations of the British Commonwealth.
In the U.S., Veterans’ Day was moved, by a 1968 act of Congress, to the fourth Monday in October. This shift of Veterans’ Day — as well as similar moves for Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day — started in 1971 and was designed to create a three-day weekend for government employees. The Veterans’ Day long weekend, though, was resisted by many states, localities, and veterans’ groups. By 1978 Veterans’ Day was again rescheduled for annual observance on November 11.
Veterans Day remains a related but unique holiday from Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May each year. Memorial Day honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans’ Day pays tribute to all American veterans — living or dead — but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Beginning this weekend, you will see new splashes of color all around the campus as we are planting our winter annuals which will last us (hopefully) the entire season. This year, we are planting beautiful pink geraniums with a dark rose colored center. We hope that you appreciate the new influx of color to our campus.
Kathy Sims (Director of Communications) is in the final stages of putting together our 2014 parish calendar. This year’s calendar looks to be an improvement over last year with more ministries and more pictures. The pictures will correspond to the particular month of the year when possible. We are confident that you will appreciate our 2014 calendar which will be available near the first of the year. We began producing a custom calendar in 2011 as the stock version was kind of boring. The custom calendar adds a personal touch and creates an inclusiveness lacking in the old version. And how are we able to offer this custom calendar to our parishioners at no cost? You guessed it! Messner Publications is printing the calendar with revenue generated through the sale of advertisements and an additional donation made by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.
We recently purchased a new asset tracking software program to handle the inventory of what has become a fairly large campus with numerous assets. This new software comes with bar coding technology and a scanner so that every asset on campus may be tracked easily based on its location. We are currently training on its use and hope to roll out the new system before Thanksgiving.
Have you visited the newly renovated and expanded Divine Gift Boutique? For those who have recently returned from your summer residence, come on in and check it out the dramatic change. We moved the altar servers’ room into the sacristy and the Gift Boutique now encompasses both spaces. Jackie has done a magnificent job of merchandising. There is literally something for everyone. We are not quite a one stop shop yet, but the idea is to provide as many ancillary items as possible to eliminate a stop on the way to or home from Mass.
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager