MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.-- -- In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, the allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement, or armistice, with Germany at Rethondes, France, which brought an end to World War I, the "war to end all wars."
One year later, men and women who survived the war recognized the first Armistice Day celebration by marching in a parade through their hometowns across the country. It wasn't until a congressional resolution in 1926 that Armistice Day officially received its name.
In 1953, townspeople in Emporia, Kansas, called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town. Soon after, Congress passed a bill produced by a Kansas congressman renaming the federal holiday to Veterans' Day. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated Nov. 11 as Veterans' Day to honor the veterans of all U.S. wars. In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared it a federal holiday to be celebrated on the second Monday in November. Today, Americans everywhere pause at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 to honor those who have served honorably to preserve the blanket of freedom we sleep under every night.
Following are the events to be held locally to commemorate the day:
? A parade and memorial service will be held to honor local veterans in downtown Beaufort beginning at 9:45 a.m. Monday. The parade will begin on the corner of Rodgers and Boundry Streets and be led by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Lowcountry Chapter. The Parris Island Marine Band and Color Guard, as well as Army vehicles from Fort Stewart, will participate in the parade.
? A ceremony will be held immediately following the parade at the Beaufort National Cemetery to honor purple heart recipients. Colonel Timothy B. Howard, WFTBn. Commanding Officer and Purple Heart recipient, will be the guest speaker. Following the ceremony, Taps will be sounded by Sgts. Daniel Ireland and Jovanny Quinones, buglers from the Parris Island Marine Band.