The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. -Patrick Henry
The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in
1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day,"
which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held
on November 11, then designated Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative Edward
Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In
1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming
November 11 as Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received the Presidential Citizens
Medal from President Reagan in November 1982. Weeks' local parade and ceremonies
are now an annual event celebrated nationwide.
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