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Veterans day


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!

Labor 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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com



“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~

Fourth of July

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.
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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.

Father’s day


He who guides us through the right paths of life – our fathers are our icon, a huge support and our pillar of strength. This special man toils hard just to secure our future and to ensure that we derive all pleasures of life. Father’s Day is celebrated to recognize the hardships and the struggles a father undertakes for his child’s growth and upbringing. It is an occasion to realize and recognize those endless pains, honor him and pay our gratitude to this very special human being.

This idea of observing a day to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd was the first to solicit the idea of having an official Father’s Day observance to honor all fathers. Sonora Smart Dodd who was raised by his father, after her mother passed away, wanted him to know how special he was to her. As her father, William Jackson Smart, was born on the month of June, she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In the year 1926, a National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York City. Later, Father’s Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson made a proclamation that the third Sunday of June is to be celebrated as Father’s Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon finalized the proclamation. Thus Father’s Day observance was made official. Till date, Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday in June. 52 of the world’s countries celebrate this occasion to commemorate fatherhood.

On Father’s day, children express and convey their deepest feelings of heart to their fathers. Father’s Day may not be one of those hallmark holidays, but certainly is a day when we take some time out to show appreciation to the most influential person in our lives, our dad. Children take this opportunity to do something special for the special man. Although this idea of ‘making the day special’ differ from person to person, country to country, yet the essence of the occasion remains the same. Organizing some special events, indulging in fun filled activities or sports or preparing the favorite dish for him are some of the most unique ideas that will make your daddy feel loved and appreciated.

Celebration of a special occasion demands something exclusive and there are ample ideas to make the celebration memorable. Gifts play a vital role in this regard. Gifts, when enfolded with heartfelt emotions, rightly renders the feeling of the soul. Likewise, on Father’s Day, gifts are the best way to express your love and respect to that special man. Traditional gifts like Flowers, Chocolates or Greeting Cards are one of the most favored gift idea on Father’s day. Along with this, present some thoughtful gifts that will surprise and elate him. Electronic Appliances and Men’s Accessories are also fine ideas.

Today, the distance of miles and places often separate us from the person we love. On such a juncture, online gifting websites does good to our cause. On the occasion of Father’s Day, select from the extensive collection of gifts and send to your father.

A bond that the abyss of time could not metamorphose is the bond shared between the father and the child. Take the pleasure of recognizing the selfless contribution of a courageous and loving man and celebrate Father’s Day with all zest. Make the moment priceless for the man; a moment which your father will eternally cherish.



“It’s only when you grow up and step back from him — or leave him for your own home — it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.”
Margaret Truman
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