On Wednesday Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold a Veterans Day remembrance ceremony in the War Memorial Chapel to recognize all veterans and to honor the service that Virginia Tech men and women have given our nation.
Maj. Gen. Jerry Allen, the Commandant of Cadets of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will speak, the service songs will be played, and then all attendees will be asked to proceed up to the War Memorial for the placing of a memorial wreath. At 11 a.m. Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger will place the wreath in front of the cenotaph on Memorial Court. The Gregory Guard, the corps rifle drill team, will fire a rifle salute, and echo taps will be played. The event is open to the public and all veterans and friends of veterans are invited.
Eleven o’clock is a symbolic time on this special day. Veterans Day, formally called Armistice Day, was initially created to celebrate the signing of the Armistice at the end of World War I. The signing occurred at 11a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918. The United States Congress passed a resolution eight years later on June 4, 1926, requesting then President Woodrow Wilson issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with appropriate ceremonies. An Act approved on May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November each year a legal holiday, “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”
In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I and with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since.
In addition, at 5 p.m., the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will hold a formal retreat ceremony at the flag pole on the Upper Quad. The color guard will lower the flag, “Skipper,” the corps cannon will fire, the Highty-Tighties regimental band will play, and the Gregory Guard will perform a rifle salute.
The corps will also be holding two vigil ceremonies to honor our nation’s veterans. Arnold Air Society, in coordination with the cadet regiment, will be holding a 24-hour vigil at The Rock on Upper Quad from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday. Two cadets will be posted as guards and will change every hour.
The second vigil will be located at the War Memorial Pylons. Echo Company will hold a 48-hour vigil from midnight Monday to midnight Wednesday. Two cadets will be posted as guards at the cenotaph and will change every hour. All current and many former members of Echo will participate in the vigil.
All are welcome to come and view these ceremonies.
From VT News Services and Staff Reports
