Veterans Groups Mark Veterans Day at Raynor Park

On November 11, local veteran groups gathered at Raynor Park in Lake Ronkonkoma to pay tribute on Veterans Day, which is formerly known as Armistice Day. A ceremony commenced at 11 a.m., led by Post Commanders with prayers for our Veterans offered by Post chaplains.

President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day on November 11, 1919 to recognize the anniversary of the end of World War 1.  Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) commemorates the Armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiegne, France. 

The cessation of the hostilities on the Western Front took effect at 11 a.m., on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month in 1918.

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas businessperson named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to honor all Veterans, not just those that served in World War I.  With the help of the Congressman Ed Reese, also from Emporia, a bill for the Veterans Day holiday was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on March 26, 1954.

Pictured are members of AMVETS Post 48,  Sons of AMVETS Post 48  and Ladies Auxiliary Post 48, American Legion Post 155, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9486 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 190.

This article was submitted by Patrick Mitchell.