More than 100 veterans, spouses, Gold and Blue Star families, and members of the Estes Park community gathered this afternoon at the Veterans Memorial in Estes Park to salute those who have served. The sun warmed the chill of the November air and a brisk wind blew the flags.
The ceremony began with local Boy Scouts Troop 8 presenting the colors. Dan Scace, commander of the American Legion Post 119, emceed the event. Mayor Gary Hall led the Pledge of Allegiance. Todd Bertani, pastor of Shepard of the Mountains, delivered the invocation, and Chaplain Tracy Dalton, a first lieutenant with the Colorado Army National Guard, offered the benediction.
Local entertainer Brad Fitch, a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, shared his reflections on his service experience.
Scace, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, told the audience that when people thank him for his service, he tells them, “You were worth it.”
Scace asked groups of veterans in the audience to stand or wave to be acknowledged, beginning with any World War II veterans. There were none. One Korean War veteran stood when when his groups was called. A large group of veterans who served during the Cold War era from the 1950s through the 1990s stood in a cohort, as did those who served after 2000. Scace also acknowledged the Gold Star and Blue Star family members.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of taps.
“This was the best weather we have had for this event,” said Carey Stevanus, owner of Cabintique. Stevanus was on the steering committee that raised funds for the Estes Park Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated in 2017.
History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day was established in 1954 when Congress changed the name of Armistice Day to honor all U.S. veterans, not just those from World War I.
Armistice Day was first observed on Nov.11, 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926:
“Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to 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.”
Armistice Day became a legal holiday in 1938 dedicated to honoring WWI veterans. Following World War II and the Korean War, Congress passed a bill to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, honoring all U.S. military veterans. Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name on June 1, 1954 (Public Law 380).
On June 28, 1968, Lyndon Johnson signed the Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)). The intention was to ensure a three-day weekend for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities, and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production.
Many states, however, continued to observe the holidays on their original dates, as there was considerable public support for maintaining Veterans Day observances on the traditional date of November 11.
On September 20, 1972, Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which reset the annual observance of Veterans Day back to Nov.11, beginning in 1978.