Home • Media Info • Reader Resources • Search for Articles • Archives • aaa.com

Features • In The News • Card Tricks • Common Cents • Drivers Seat • Tips On Travel • Travel Treasures • Tank Trips


Remembering the Sacrifice

Published Nov/Dec 2004

For 51 years, Emporians have honored veterans
with a parade to beat the band.
By Sally m. Snell

Recent world events–acts of terrorism and war–have reminded us we owe our safety and freedom to the men and women who serve in the military. This Veterans Day, remember and thank our veterans who have served honorably in the military in times of peace and war. Federal offices and financial institutions will close, and small parades and ceremonies will be held in communities across America—an annual tribute dating back to World War I.

Veterans Day: A historic capsule
In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, touched off a series of escalating conflicts giving rise to World War I. Before the war ended four years later, 20 nations from around the world had troop involvement, including the United States. Eight million troops had been killed, 22 million were wounded and 2 million were missing (www.FirstWorld War.com). The devastation was so global that World War I was known as the “War to End all Wars.” At 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an Armistice Agreement was signed at Compiegne, France, effectively ending the fighting.

Through a 1938 congressional act, Nov. 11 became known as Armistice Day and was officially proclaimed a national holiday. But peace was not to last.

In 1938, the rights of Jewish citizens in Germany had already been stripped away; German and Soviet militaries had begun to mobilize. The Second World War began. The United States joined the world at war in 1941. When it ended in 1945, 23 million troops and 30 million civilians worldwide had been killed (www.valorandhorror.com).

Armistice Day continued to be celebrated annually, but its name and intent (celebrating the veterans who served during World War I) did nothing to acknowledge the men and women who had served during World War II and the Korean War.

Emporia, Kan., native Alvin J. King saw a need to have the contributions and sacrifices of Rifle Company B, 137th Infantry formally recognized. He proposed that Armistice Day be expanded to honor veterans of all wars and conflicts, not just World War I. Emporians agreed and the first Veterans Day was celebrated on Nov. 11, 1953. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day in 1954 and the first nationwide observance of Veterans Day was on Nov. 11, 1954.

On the day he signed the proclamation, President Eisenhower wrote this letter to the Administrator of Veterans Affairs: “It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations and the entire citizenry will join hands to ensure proper and widespread observance of this day.”

The Kansas connection
“Emporia has always shown a lot of support to our veterans,” said Liz Martell, Director of the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Since 2000, Emporia has honored veterans with a multi-day Veterans Tribute. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the first nationwide celebration of Veterans Day, Emporia is holding a special Veterans Tribute Nov. 10–14.
Events kick off with a student essay and poster contest Nov. 10. Area veterans work closely with the children in helping them prepare for the contest. On Veterans Day, the 51st Annual Veterans Day Parade will be held. Unlike many small community parades, Emporia’s stretches on for dozens of blocks, includes hundreds of participants and thousands of onlookers.

A Veterans Recognition and USO Show with musical, comical and theatrical acts will be held Friday evening. This show also includes a remembrance ceremony, “Lighting of the Torch.” The show sold out in 2003.

Weekend events include a narrated World War II Battle Re-enactment and a mock military field base known as Camp Tribute, with military equipment from various wars and conflicts, living history exhibits and children’s activities. Actor and Emporia native R. Lee Ermey of the History Channel’s “Mail Call” has been invited to attend.

Participation in the Emporia Veterans Tribute had been strong prior to Sept. 11, 2001, but became even stronger after.

“The events of 9/11 reminded us all of the price of freedom,” said Martell.

Veteran tributes have expanded to year-round recognition, with chamber members participating in Patriotic Fridays by sporting red, white and blue apparel or buttons.

“Veterans deserve to be thanked every day,” said Martell.

Sally M. Snell is a contributor from Topeka, Kan.

Above: The anticipation of seeing what’s ahead at Emporia’s Veterans Day Parade is almost too much for these youngsters.

Below: A V.F.W. Post displays its colors in Emporia’s annual Veterans Day parade. ©Michael Snell photos



Before You Go

For more information, contact the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1-800-279-3730, or visit www.emporiakschamber.org.

Stop by your nearest AAA service office for maps, reservations, TripTiks and TourBook guides. View a list of offices.

Order free information through the Reader Service Card online. Click on Reader Resources.


Osage Beach Tribute Fair

Every Veterans Day since 2000, the gymnasium of the School of the Osage in Osage Beach, Mo., has become the setting for a patriotic event.

When asked how it began, Dr. Mark Fickie, high school principal for the School of the Osage said, “Well, if I told you, you’d think I was nuts.”

Fickie had read Tom Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation” and discussed the book with former Superintendent Stan Johnson. Brokaw’s book is a compilation of letters and interviews with World War II veterans and their families about their lives and the sacrifices they made for our country.

“We don’t do enough to recognize these people,” said Fickie. He and Johnson were inspired to do something to recognize “particularly the WWII generation of veterans,” said Fickie. The program was expanded to include all veterans. “We even had one WWI veteran come.”

The program includes patriotic performances by the full school orchestra, select choir and mixed choirs. “It’s just a nice celebration of this country,” Fickie said.

Veterans and the general public are invited. Even vacationers and people from neighboring school districts have asked to attend.

“This has been very well received,” said Fickie. “Every individual, and we have many veterans who come, has been very proud to see someone in their uniform helping to present the colors.”

For more information about Veterans Day, visit www1.va.gov/vetsday.
School of the Osage can be reached at (573) 348-0115.

– Sally M. Snell

Veterans Day Events 2004

It is billed as America's largest Veterans Day celebration and it takes place in Branson, Mo.

Veterans Homecoming will be Nov. 5–11 and includes more than 60 events, including reunions, golf tournaments and exhibits. Many of Branson theaters offer discounts to veterans during the week. This year, a special event for women veterans is planned for Nov. 8. Lunch, dinner, and tours of Ride the Ducks, the American Presidential Museum and Stone Hill Winery are planned for the Women Veterans Day Gathering.

On Nov. 11, Branson's annual Veterans Day Parade will feature bands and veteran units from across the country. The week is capped off at 2 p.m. on Nov. 11 with Tony Orlando's Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans at Mansion America.

Branson Veterans Task Force sponsors the Veterans Homecoming. For more information, call (417) 337-8387 or visit online at www.bransonveterans.com.

Other Veterans Day events in the region include:

    • Salute to Veterans Exhibit, Nov. 1–12 in Hays, Kan. Memorabilia honors the men and women who have served our country. Call the Ellis County Historical Museum at (785) 628-2624 or www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org.

    • Veterans Day Parade, noon on Nov. 6 in downtown St. Louis, Mo. Area veterans' organizations participate in this annual parade saluting those who have served their country. The parade begins at 14th and Olive streets, goes south on 14th to Chestnut, east on Chestnut to Tucker, south on Tucker to Market, west on Market to Union Station where it disbands. Call (314) 622-4550.

    • Veterans Tribute, Nov. 10–14 in Emporia, Kan. The founding city of Veterans Day honors those who have served with memorial services, an essay contest, a USO Show and the 51st annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11. Call Emporia's Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-279-3730 or www.emporiakschamber.org.

    Other Kansas Veterans Day parades will be held on Nov. 11 in Leavenworth, (913) 682-4113; Medicine Lodge, (620) 886-5608; Beloit, (785) 738-3988; and Russell, 1-800-658-4686 or www.russellks.org.

    • A scaled reproduction of the Vietnam Memorial will be at Wentworth Military Academy and Junior College in Lexington, Mo., Nov. 11–14. A Veterans Day ceremony will be Nov. 11. Call 1-800-962-7682, ext. 233, or www.wma1880.org.

    • Veterans Day event, Nov. 11 at School of the Osage in Osage Beach, Mo. Speakers and musical performances pay tribute to veterans, especially those who fought in World War II. Call the school at (573) 348-0115.

    • Veterans Day Parade at 2 p.m. on Nov. 11 in Anna, Ill. The parade kicks off at the city park entrance on Davie Street and follows Main to Jefferson street and back to the park. Call (618) 833-5182.

    • The Center for the Study of the Korean War will put up an exhibit on Nov. 11 at Graceland University's Independence, Mo., campus. Call (816) 833-0524, ext. 4304, or www.graceland.edu/koreanwar/index.

    If you'd like to attend the Veterans Day National Ceremony, it will be at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater. For details, visit http://www1.va.gov/vetsday/.

November 11  Veteran's Parade – Uptown Jackson, MO - Everyone united on the streets to honor our war veterans.  Contact the Jackson Chamber of Commerce for more information at 573-243-8131.

November 13  Veteran's Parade – Cape Girardeau, MO - Participants will line up at 8:15 a.m. at Lorimier St. and Broadway.  The parade will start at 9:00 a.m. and run to Capaha Park, Freedom Corner.  Please note that participants can not throw candy from the vehicles.  For more information, contact Sam Welker 573-334-6201, or Roger Lang at 573-334-2404.

Veteran's Day Parade 2004. The theme this year is "Pray For Our Troops". At the conclusion of the parade, an Award Ceremony will be held at Memorial Hall with Keynote Speaker Gary Nodler, Missouri State Senator from the 32nd District. Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at 12th and Main in Joplin. Call 417-624-0378 for information.

Nov. 11 A salute to Veteran's. Parade includes area bands, Scout Troops, Dignitaries, Army Marching Band, Military Vehicles, area business and organizations floats. No Admission For more information contact Chamber of Commerce at 573-336-5121

Various services at High Schools and Grade Schools:American Legion Post 218 service at Veterans Memorial in Krog Memorial Park at 11:00 am 11-11

– Compiled by "AAA Midwest Traveler" staff

^ to top | previous page
Contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part unless expressly authorized in writing by AAA Traveler Magazines.

Copyright © 1999 - 2007 AAA Traveler Magazine | 12901 N. Forty Dr. | St. Louis, MO 63141