By Lylyan Yenson, Staff Writer
For most federal holidays, students get a day break to celebrate that holiday because the holiday is recognized by the country as a whole. The break is well deserved but students should remember why they have that day off and appreciate the holiday. Although high schoolers know that the days are more than just a break, they don’t celebrate it or recognize the holidays as much as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Independence Day. Two of the most unappreciated holidays are Labor Day and Veterans Day. Students use those one day breaks to catch up on sleep or homework and that is understandable, but they should spend a couple minutes and reflect on why those holidays are so important.
Labor Day:
Labor Day is the first Monday in September and was created to highlight the social and economic achievements of hardworking Americans. Labor Day was first recognized by a state as an official holiday in 1887 and it slowly diffused to the other states and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act and legally made the first Monday in September, Labor Day. Although it is uncertain who first brought up the idea, records have shown that Peter J. McGuire was the first to suggest a day in honor of workers throughout America.
Despite the fact that Labor Day wasn’t an official holiday until 1887, it was first celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City and again the following year on the same date. The idea of celebrating the working men of the Americas soon spread throughout cities especially within the industrial cities in the country. It started off as a simple street parade to show pride and strength, but expanded and soon the tradition of making speeches began to take place.
This holiday is seen more as an end to summer and the start of the school year within students because school starts around the end of August and the beginning of September which is when this holiday takes place. While the students are busy worrying about the start of school, they overlook this holiday.
Veteran’s Day:
Veteran’s Day is hosted on Nov. 11 annually and was created to honor military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. World War I had ended when the Treaty of Versailles had been signed, but fighting has ceased several months earlier on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month which is why Nov. 11, 1918 is also referred to as the end of “the war to end all wars”. The following year President Wilson announced Nov. 11 as the first celebration of Armistice Day. The original idea for the holiday was for their to be parades, public meetings, and a halt in businesses starting at 11:00 a.m..
Armistice Day became a legal holiday that was to be celebrated on Nov. 11 to celebrate world peace and honor veterans in World War I. After World War II, Congress changed the name from Armistice to Veteran’s Day and President Eisenhower issued the first Veteran’s Day Proclamation. On the same day as the issue of the proclamation, the president sent a letter to Honorable Harvey V. Higley and assigned him as the Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
Veteran’s Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 11 without fail and continues to honor the brave veterans who had put their lives on the line for our country. This day celebrates their patriotism and love for their country.
There are many more holidays that are very important, but have been overlooked simply because it isn’t as celebrated or recognized as others. All holidays have a reason as to why they were created and people should take a closer look at their history to see their importance.
