Darien Commemorates Veterans Day With Annual Ceremony
DARIEN, CT — The Darien community on Monday morning gathered in front of Town Hall to commemorate Veterans Day.
Put on by the Darien Monuments & Ceremonies Commission, the brief ceremony featured a flag-raising by members of VFW Post 6933, a memorial wreath-laying and a reading of Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Field.” There was also the playing of Taps.
First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky recounted the history of Nov. 11.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, an armistice, or truce, was declared between Allied nations and Germany in World War I.
Originally called “Armistice Day,” Nov. 11, 1919, was intended to celebrate the end of “The Great War.”
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Congress eventually passed a resolution in 1926 calling for an annual observance, which later became a national holiday starting in 1938.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954, which signified that the day was meant to celebrate veterans of all wars.
Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill in 1968, which moved the observance of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October which went into effect in 1971. However, in 1975, President Gerald Ford moved the date back to Nov. 11 because of the historical significance associated with the date.
“In a way, Veterans Day is a recognition that war is never-ending and that the next conflict is right around the corner. Exhibit A is the number of such conflicts going on around the world right now,” Zagrodzky said in his brief remarks. “As such, we should honor and recognize those who serve today, or have served, in the past. They are the ones who protect us from this ever-present danger.”
Zagrodzky then issued a proclamation asking all residents in Darien to join him in observing Veterans Day and thanking those who have served.
“We cannot reiterate enough to all of our veterans our immense debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they have made in serving our country and how proud we are of them,” Zagrodzky said as part of his proclamation.
Monday’s ceremony was broadcast on Darien TV79. You can view the entire ceremony on-demand here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: france national rugby union team jersey
