Veterans Day is a Public Holiday in the United States of America, and commemorates all those American military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces since the country came into being.
November 11th of every year is designated as Veterans Day, but must not be confused with Memorial Day which is also a Public Holiday to commemorate all those US military men and women who laid down their lives in the service of their nation.
On the first anniversary of the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement which outlined the sacrifices that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces made to get Germany to agree to an Armistice, and thereafter the United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4th 1926 for the President of the United States of America to issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of November 11th to honor all American veterans who had served the country.
The date selected has special significance as it was at the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when all hostilities in World War I ended and when the Armistice with the state of Germany went into effect. Like most other countries that fought that war with Germany, the United States of America also observed Armistice Day but in 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day.
May 13th 1938 saw another US Congress Act being passed which proclaimed that November 11th be declared a public holiday to enable the citizens to honor those who had served in the United States Armed Forces and dedicated to world peace. Then in 1945 an American veteran of World War II, Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama thought it fit to extend Armistice Day to all United States Armed Forces veterans and not to just only those who laid down their lives in World War I.
Raymond Weeks was a very persevering personality and he led a delegation of World War II veterans and met with General Dwight Eisenhower who apparently was moved by the idea and thought it was worthwhile to have one National Veterans Day to honor all those veterans who had served in the United States Armed Forces.
Weeks led the first of such celebrations in 1947 at Alabama and annually thereafter, until his passing away in 1985. And his crowning moment of glory was when President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Presidential Citizenship Medal at the White House in 1982 for being the driving force behind this very honorable national endeavor. President Reagan who read from a speech prepared by Elizabeth Dole at the presentation ceremony declared that Raymond Weeks was the “Father of Veterans Day”.
Subsequently in keeping with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the Fourth Monday of October in 1971 but after 1977 it was moved back to its original day of November 11th in 1978 and remains so till today.
Your acts of bravery, selflessness, and unconditional love for this nation will always be remembered. Today, we salute our veterans and thank them for their dedication and patriotism! Happy Veterans Day!
It’s The End Of Summer, So Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
Many of us have probably wondered throughout the years why we celebrate Labor Day, though we have not made any concentrated effort to find out. It is a tradition that we accept with no questions asked. Some may not even be aware that Labor Day is more than just the end of summer activities.
Labor unions were the first to celebrate the beginning of the Labor Day tradition in the US. A union leader by the name of Peter McGuire originated the idea of setting aside a day for workers to gather in unity. On September 5, 1882, the inaugural Labor Day parade with all its finery was held in New York City, and a decision was made by the labor unions to designate a date between Independence Day and the Thanksgiving holiday. The first Monday in September was chosen for future celebrations.
As the idea circulated in the United States, some states declared this day a holiday even before the first Monday in September was designated a national holiday.
President Grover Cleveland signed the bill to honor Labor Day. The date was chosen to be that of the first Monday in the month of September. What makes this memorable is that Cleveland was not a support of the unions. In fact, at the time he signed the bill, he was attempting to repair some damage to his political career that he had previously suffered when he sent troops to stop a strike that was sponsored by the Railway Workers Union that caused 34 workers to lose their lives.
In Europe, China, and other countries in the rest of the world, it is May Day, the first day of May, that they hold celebrations similar to the North American celebration for Labor Day.
In the 1950’s approximately 40 percent of workers belonged to labor unions in the United States. Currently that figure is approximately 14 percent. As a result, Labor Day is celebrated more as the unofficial way to end the summer than as a labor union holiday. Just about all schools as well as businesses (including the US Government) close on Labor Day to allow people to have one more barbecue before it begins to turn cold. It used to be symbolic, also, as the beginning of a new school year, but with many schools returning the middle or end of August, the day has lost its significance in that respect, though it is still a closed holiday for schools.
“No man needs sympathy because he has to work, because he has a burden to carry. Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” ~Theodore Roosevelt~
The Essential Message of Easter.-
Regardless of whether you are an Episcopalian, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist or “Christian” of some stripe, the festival of Easter is the highlight of our year. With its themes of His triumph over death and His resurrection, we prepare ourselves for the Ascension of our Lord.
It is important to remember that Salvation is not just a historical event that took place in the distant past to other people in other places. The same spiritual energies that were available during the Resurrection are available to us in the here and now. Easter is truly an opportunity for re-birth for those who grasp on to it.
The Easter season is looked upon with great anticipation by people who are interested in their own spiritual growth and well being. The rituals we observe allow us time for reflection, prayer and penitence, which can lead to our own rebirth.
The early Christians no longer focused on the exodus from Egyptian Bondage, but on a new kind of exodus from the bondage of sin to the new life of our Risen Lord.
Sometimes during the weeks preceding Easter we have a feeling of discomfort, of sadness. We walk around moping, not quite understanding why. This is because in a way, we are in mourning. We are mourning the loss of a part of our essential selves, even though our sinfulness is something we need to eradicate, we still mourn its loss. Why? Because the behavior patterns of sin are known to us, we feel oddly comforted by the familiarity of them.
Sinfulness lies deep within a person; it is an attitude, a willingness to turn ones face away from the Creator. Often times we are not even conscious of this shift away from God. It is only after one comes to the realization that he has turned his face away and separated himself, can he hope for perfect reunification. But how do we move from our deeply flawed state of sin to one of reconciliation? The followers of Christ have been furnished with the cure. Once and for all, Jesus has paid the price for us to redeem ourselves. Through the saving action of Christ, each of us has been reconciled to God.
The spiritual energy of the Easter Season affords us a unique opportunity to grasp hold of our own redemption. We need to remember that life is a series of stops and starts, of spiritual advancement and spiritual retreat. We have “spiritual growth spurts” throughout our lives until the day we die. I hope that this Easter you will take the opportunity to explore the reason for the season in your own life.
About the author.- Copyright 2005. Sharon Serot , CEO Terra Sancta Guild. Find a wide selection of Christian and Inspirational gifts for any occasion. http://www.terrasanctaguild.com.
The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt~
Every 22nd of April all of us celebrate Earth Day; a day focused on cultivating understanding as well as appreciation for the planet, regarding nature. As it was back in the 70s after the movement started, same goes with it today, the campaign to memorialize, safeguard, and also keep the earth is more crucial. In the world today, the hue and cry for the Earth is even much more important.
From the exploitation of rainforests, air pollution, acid rain, water toxic contamination, overpopulation, and also the continuously diminishing supply of fossil fuels that our entire world by now operates on, lots of people are going for a long close look on the future as well as the things they can do in the present.
Staying conscientious about our use may be the starting point. Whether it’s water, a bar of soap, the meals we cook, and even the energy we all use to operate our households each and every day. Keeping away from wastage of any sort, maximizing the use of our sources, and becoming clever concerning our options for our homes is just where it commences. Here is where we’re able to make the most impact on minimizing our carbon presence and being able to help maintain a ecological existence.
As a result, to make smart choices for our households possesses a much larger effect that individuals would ever guess. Choosing to go with energy-saving lamps; tankless water heaters, low-flow furnishings such as aerated faucets, shower heads, and also toilets; energy-efficient windows; and house appliances that will use less without affecting their effectivity, from dish washers to our dryer and washer combinations. Altogether, these regular attributes in a home can certainly considerably decrease our usage of water, gas, and electrical power amongst other things.
Have the gas tankless water heater for instance. Lowering our usage of propane is evident with this appliance. By reduction of the power wastage from having the water temperature in a standard storage-tank type water heater 24 hours a day whether or not unnecessary, certainly is the most simple, most elegant choice. It is but just one way of having the ability to exercise going eco-friendly beyond Earth Day from a achievable way.
A lot of these heaters can certainly considerably impact your power usage. Discounts on natural gas consumption for the water heaters can easily more than compensate for the better rate of the products. That is a slow way to regain your money yet it’s a good and also environment-friendly method of carrying it out.
Such water heaters have been shown as providing great power savings and unlimited hot water. They may be efficient as there is not any energy used in maintaining a tank full of water hot. The only time any electricity is utilized , is the moment hot water is simply used.
Using small yet still wise techniques and also systems into our day-to-day lifestyles can certainly create significant difference. Slight adjustments in the way we all live our lives and look into our utilization of the planet’s resources is normally our obligation as human beings and as citizens of the world.
Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of Nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life. – Thomas Alva Edison
The origins of the Valentine’s Day go back to the times of Roman Empire. People who lived in that time believed that February 14th is the day to honor Juno, who is the Queen of Roman Gods. Juno is also considered as the Goddess of marriage and women. During that time, the lives of girls and boys were flowing in two separate tracks. The only time they received the chance to get together was on 15th of February. On this day, the names of girls were written in paper slips and kept inside jars. Then every boy was asked to pick one slip out of them. This symbolizes their togetherness.
By the time when Claudius II started ruling Rome, it was identified that most of the young men prefer to stay with women and they don’t take the decision to join the army as a result of it. As a result, he ordered to cancel all the engagements and marriages, which were taking place in all parts of the country. At this moment, Saint Valentines, who was a priest in Rome helped Christian martyrs to marry in secret. However, this act was revealed and Saint Valentine was beaten to death. The ban was lifted back in 270 and people got the opportunity to get together with their partners again. In order to honor the sacrifice done by Saint Valentine, 14th of February was named as the Valentine’s Day.
The concept of Valentine’s Day became extremely popular among people who lived in every corner of the world. Most of the people think that the Valentine’s Day is a day that is dedicated for couples. However, people who aren’t in romance can also think about celebrating this special day. In other words, singles don’t need to spend this special day on their own. The Valentine’s Day can be spent in the company of good friends.
Whether you make the decision to celebrate the Valentine’s Day with your lover or your friends, you are provided with plenty of activities to take part in and enjoy. For example, the couples can think about going to a movie and enjoying a romantic candlelight dinner. On the other hand, singles can think about getting into their best casual outfits and going out to spend the day with friends. They can play bowling or any other similar sport.
On Valentine’s Day, a large number of gifts are also being exchanged among people. Most of them tend to give roses to their loved partners. However, there are individuals who prefer to give other sorts of gifts, such as chocolates, t-shirts, and ornaments on this special day. Therefore, Valentine’s Day can be considered as one of the best day of the year to share love and happiness.
“Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert Heinlein, Author
Everyone loves the holiday season. It is a chance to spend time with family and friends and have a break from the everyday routine. The Christmas holiday is a time for decorating the house and filling it with smells of mince pies. Young children get excited at the thought of all those presents waiting to be opened under the Christmas tree. Preparations can be hard work for those in charge but it is all worthwhile.
Planning in advance is the key to a successful and stress free Christmas holiday. Shopping for gifts at the last minute is a sure fire way to raise the blood pressure! Many people shop by mail order or on the Internet in order to beat the crowds. The only last minute shopping that needs to be done is perishable food items. Christmas dinner can also be prepared in advance to a degree with the aid of the freezer. The cook should leave other family members to do the dish washing afterwards!
Most people like the traditional way of doing things and that includes decorating the tree on Christmas Eve. Some people also like to attend church on Christmas Eve and the carol service can be a moving experience, setting the mood for the Christmas holiday. Christmas dinner is usually turkey with all the trimmings. Turkey can be dry, so it’s a good idea to have a stuffing with apples and sage and plenty cranberry jelly. Roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, sprouts, bread sauce and thick gravy are the perfect accompaniments followed by Christmas Pudding and brandy butter sauce. For those preferring something less rich, cheese and crackers is ideal.
Deciding what to buy children can be difficult. There is so much choice but many parents are on a budget. Young children will often spend more time playing with the gift wrapping than the actual present! The little gifts put into the Christmas stockings are sometimes, the most appreciated. Whatever the present, the thought of Father Christmas coming down the chimney is the highlight of the Christmas holiday.
It’s tempting to overindulge in food and drink during the festive season. Membership of fitness gyms tends to go up during the month of January with everyone desperately trying to lose the pounds they gained over the Christmas holiday. Drinking too much is more of a serious problem, especially at the office party. No one wants to start the holiday with a hangover!
Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas. It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds and scents of Christmas can be experienced. The decorations at Malls and retail establishments are usually very fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and twinkling lights. It’s also a wonder for both adults and children alike to look at the numerous tinsels, baubles and figurines such as fairies, angels and little babies that adorn the main Christmas tree in the center of shopping malls and others in department stores. These trees are usually extremely well embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that most shoppers can’t replicate in their own homes. It’s therefore a delight for them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.
Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there also is the sound of music playing, bells ringing, the laughter and wishes of Merry Christmas from shoppers that also create a special atmosphere and add to the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.
And of course there’s always a Santa Claus that children can meet and tell what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken. Sometimes Santa Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas present.
The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus, as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look forward to every year during the Christmas season.
There’s also the sound of music from choirs or school groups who often give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown areas of towns. Families and others who are out and about will pause to listen or to sing along with these groups. Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas, but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family, friends and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there usually are parties at home and at work, an evening out with friends and other occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.
Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh Christmas tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking and other food preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a real Christmas tree instead of an artificial one for their homes do so because of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.
Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song ‘Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.’ The actual roasting of chestnuts by families during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days but it is occasionally done in some downtown areas and in bakeries and confectioneries that make fresh products everyday.
All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” Roy L. Smith
If you thought back to the first things you ever learned about the history of America, the one that jumps out is that Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered America is 1492. While the date is correct, we later learned when our study of history became more scholarly that there is some dispute about whether Columbus discovered America at all. So what is the real legacy that this legend of Columbus has given to the American culture that has made him such a revered figure in cultural history?
So much of the Columbus story is approximate that, at first review, we would almost relegate the story of how Columbus discovered America to the level of a myth that borders on superhero worship. But Columbus was not a myth. There really was an explorer named Columbus who carried out three bold journeys across the ocean and during those journeys, he did indeed discover “the new world.” His ships really were named the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria and he did indeed embark one of those three voyages in 1492.
The legacy of Columbus then is more than just the facts of his exploratory journeys and their outcome. There is reason to believe that Columbus’s fabled “discovery of America” did not occur on North American soil but somewhat further south of here, somewhere in the Bahamas. But the legacy of Columbus lies in his spirit and the challenge he took on that is part of the American spirit and one we identify with so strongly.
Part of the legend was that Columbus embarked on this trip for the new world despite the prevailing “scientific” belief that the world was flat. Now research in recent times have surfaced sufficient documentation to show that sailors of that time never did believe that teaching. Their extensive knowledge of navigation and astronomy, which is crucial for any successful sea voyage, was sufficient for sailors to know that the earth was round and that they would never “fall off the edge.” However, the image of those brave men launching out to sea, against the advice of popular opinion, to find something new and exciting so connects with the American spirit of discovery and adventure that this myth persists as part of the legacy of Columbus.
Americans do have a tremendous sense of discovery and adventure and a deeply seated need to conquer new lands, to reach out beyond their own grasp and to do the impossible. This was the spirit of Manifest Destiny which gripped the nation long before there was any reason to believe that this meager band of colonists had the resources to settle a great nation. Americans always have had such a firm belief in themselves and a core faith that they could do the impossible. That part of the American spirit is what connects to Columbus’s setting out on these bold missions facing certain dangers so he too could discover new lands and have great adventures.
The legacy of Columbus also lies in the American desire to explore. Even though the source of the quotation is only a science fiction show, the “mission” of the fictional space ship “The Enterprise” sums up a deep desire in the heart of all Americans.
Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her five year mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.
For Americans, the mission of James Kirk is a perfect restatement of the mission of Christopher Columbus. And it is the mission of America which has driven this country and its citizens to discoveries and achievements that have never been done before. It is that spirit of Columbus in all Americans that is one of the things that have made this country great.
“Be a Columbus, smell the fragrance of the new lands and discover them!”
― Amit Ray, Peace Bliss Beauty and Truth: Living with Positivity
New Year is a time of celebration, beginning of all the new work and activities where as leaving all the worst deeds in the past. I truly hope you are looking forward to the holidays and the New Year, and I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you the best of times. Let’s not forget that we really do have something to celebrate. We are still here. That’s something to be thankful for. We still have people that care about us. And we all have the capacity to make things better. Isn’t this freedom to create a better world for ourselves and our loved ones?
Let’s get happy and celebrate the spirit of the New Year. Let’s do something that will give us a better future. Let’s become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
New Year is a time to ring out the Old and ring in the New with fun, party and celebration among our friends and families. It’s that time of year again when we find ourselves saying things like “where did this year go?” or maybe even “I had such big plans for this year”. Well, whatever it is you are saying, I suggest you to dig a little deeper and reflect a little more; to consciously complete this year.
Resolutions are taken to improve the faults and mistake done in the past year and not to continue in upcoming year. New Year is a best time to wish your friends and families for their success and prosperity in upcoming year. For this purpose greetings and well wishing cards are used as an effective means to wish each other. The most easy and quickest means is through “Sms”. As most of the people around the world have mobile in their hand. These sms really behave as a short and sweet means to get closer to your friends and families either they are close to you or far from you.
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends.
Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. So, best wishes for your friends and families in the beginning of the year may bring lots of luck and prosperity for them.
Don’t sit back and wait for the best wishes to arrive instead step forward and send best wishes to your nearest and dearest ones. You can find lots of New Year wishes sms and greetings on web.
Author: Rahul Roy
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin
The Fourth of July or July Fourth also popularly referred to as The Independence Day is a very important date in the calendar of the United States of America. It’s the special day to celebrate the history, culture, the type of government they have and also the high traditions that this country is endeavoring to uphold.
The significance of this Federal holiday dates back to July 4th 1776, which is about 241 years ago with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress formed by thirteen American colonies.This historic document decreed and declared that the thirteen American colonies, the Province of New Hampshire, Province of Massachusetts Bay, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut Colony, Province of New York, Province of New Jersey, Province of Pennsylvania, Delaware Colony, Province of Maryland, Colony of Virginia, Province of North Carolina, Province of South Carolina and Province of Georgia would form the United States of America and break away from the British Crown which was ruling them from Britain.
This led to the American Revolutionary War fought between 1775 and 1783 with France, the Dutch Republic and Spain joining in the war supporting the breakaway United States.
It is significant to note that the thirteen horizontal red stripes on the flag of the United States of America even today depicts those thirteen colonies who decided to take on the might of the British Empire to Declare Independence and break away from the tyrannical rule of the British who were bent on plundering the rich resources of North America.
It was quite easy for these thirteen colonies to band themselves together for many reasons, one they were all on the east coast of North America, they all had similar legal, political and constitutional systems and were dominated by Protestant English speakers.
The thirteen colonies were also equipped with a very streamlined and high degree of self government, very vibrant and active local elections, enabling them to resist any pressure directed by the British from across the Atlantic Ocean.
.
Initially there was confusion as to when the Declaration of Independence was signed, whether it was on July 2nd or on July 4th, anyway it was decided to have July 4th as Independence Day to put aside all the confusion.It would be interesting to note that two signatories to the Declaration of Independence John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who were subsequently elected Presidents of the United States of America died on Independence Day of 1826. President James Monroe a founding father though not a signatory to the Declaration of Independence was elected as President and died on Independence Day 1831.
Today Independence Day is celebrated with much pomp and pageantry with a festive mood prevailing all across the United States of America, with firework displays, parades, carnivals, concerts, family re-unions and a plethora of activities which bring a sense of happiness and achievement among all the citizens of this great nation.
Memorial Day can be considered as one of the Federal Holidays. People in every corner of United States celebrate Memorial Day. They also consider it as a good day to stay away from the hectic work schedules and go for a good cookout. However, the primary objective of having a Memorial Day, is to honor and recognize all the sacrifices that have been done by the military veterans, who are alive or dead.
Initially, the Memorial Day was celebrated to honor the Union soldiers, who lost their lives while fighting in the Civil War. However, it became more popular after the World War I. The concept expanded, and people started honoring the brave soldiers who lost their lives while fighting for any military operation, including war. Soon after the Civil War, people who lived in major cities in United States started honoring the heroes of their own hometowns. However, the idea of making the Memorial Day a Federal Holiday came out in 1868. As a result, it had been celebrated on May 30th from 1868-1970. It became a Federal Holiday in 1971 and it’s currently observed every year on the last Monday of May.
The Memorial Day can be considered as an alternative for the Decoration Day. It became extremely popular among people in the country after the World War II. The official name for the Memorial Day was set by Federal Law back in 1967. When civil war ended up in 1865, about 500,000 soldiers lost their lives. Then people started decorating their graves to honor them. During 1915, Moina Belle Michael came up with the idea of wearing red poppies in order to honor the brave soldiers who died for the nation during the civil war. Moreover, money that was raised from selling red poppies were used in order to benefit the families of those soldiers.
Memorial Day is not just an ordinary holiday. It is a fascinating victory day where we take time to remember the people who died for the nation. This is the best day of the year to visit the memorial places, which are located throughout the country. A large number of events are also being organized on the Memorial Day and you can think about taking part in them as well. Or else, you can simply prepare to go on a picnic or throw a party. However, it would be a good idea to bring a story of a brave soldier who fought for the country when you are throwing a party on the Memorial Day. On the other hand, you can invite a solider along with his family members to take part in it and enjoy the time. You can also go to the cemetery on the Memorial Day and place a flag and a candle on the graves of veterans. Then you will be spending the Memorial Day in a meaningful manner.
“Tonight, when you go to bed, say a prayer that God watch over those who watch over us, and thank them for their sacrifices, on and off the battlefield. Pray that they have a peaceful night, and will be home soon with their families who also share their burden. Without them, we would not have this moment.“ Neil Leckman