President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day as a day to observe the end of The Great War, World War I (that ended the year before, as agreed, on November 11) with parades, public meetings and suspension of business. Congress declared in 1926 that the date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations. In 1938 Armistice Day became a legal holiday and one when the veterans of The Great War would be honored, and in 1954 Congress amended the 1938 Act to include veterans of all wars and changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. President Eisenhower proclaimed that year that, “In order to insure proper and widespread observance of the holiday, all veterans’ organizations and all citizens should join hands in this common purpose.”

With the Uniform  Holiday Bill of 1968, that created the three day weekend holidays throughout the year, Veterans Day was celebrated briefly on the last Monday of October until 1975 when President Ford signed the law that Veterans Day would be celebrated each year again and always on November 11, regardless of the day of the week it that it falls, the day that was accepted as the end of The Great War.

ABOVE: It was a happy time in Old Forge’s in 1946 at the end of World War II when veterans J. Aiken, D. Russell, B. Joslin, J. Mulchy, A. Baker and R. Crofut were welcomed home as heroes.

BELOW: World War II veterans Bob Crofut, Frank Ritz, Red Ritz, Art Baker, Jerry Mulchy and John Aiken proudly waved their flag in front of the old bank building and pharmacy near the Busy Corner when they returned home after serving their country.

Photos courtesy of the Town of Webb Historical Association.