On Thursday, November 10th  Miami Township’s held its Fourth Annual Veterans Day Breakfast Ceremony.  Miami Township is grateful that it takes time  to remember and honor all American veterans, the men and women in uniform who
served and continue to serve this great country. Our veterans are hands down  some of the finest people this nation has to offer. Each dedicated and  loyal veteran served this nation and its people.

A collaborative and beautifully orchestrated effort by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3438, VFW Post 280, American Legion Post 165 and AL Post 598 kicked-off the event with the Presentation of Colors. Honor Guard Chaplain Don Leicy gave a heartwarming  invocation and Benediction.

This year’s event was attended by approximately 60 veterans who gratefully  make Miami Township their home. The war veterans specifically honored at the  event include Dean Goodwin, Gary Garrison, Wells Colvin, Thelma Schneider, and
Paul W. Zanowick II. Trustee Deborah Preston and Assistant Township  Administrator Greg Rogers presented the honorees with the Township’s commemorative coin.

Thank you to the Dayton Christian High School Choir, lead by Choir Director Tracy Miller, for  entertaining the Township’s veterans and guests.

For those who do not remember, following is a brief history.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th  month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into  effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first  time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”. There were plans for parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at 11am. In 1926, the United States Congress  officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should “issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.”

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13, 1938, which made November 11 in each year a legal holiday, known as Armistice Day. This day was originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. A few years later, World War II required the largest mobilization of service men in the history of the United States and the American forces fought in Korea. In 1954, the veterans service organizations urged Congress to change the word “Armistice” to “Veterans”. Congress approved this change and on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans, where ever and whenever they had served.

In 1968 the Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) made an attempt to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. The bill took effect in 1971. However, this caused a lot of confusion as many states disagreed with this decision and continued to hold Veterans Day activities on November 11. In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which stated that Veterans Day would again be observed on November 11 from 1978 onwards. Veterans Day is still observed on November 11.

Thank you to the veterans who have served this country so that we may enjoy our freedoms.