Havre VFW prepares for Veterans Day commemoration

This Sunday is the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I, celebrated as Veterans Day, and the Havre Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 497 will have an outdoor ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Town Square followed by a free-will chili feed at the Elks Lodge.

VFW Post Commander William “Bill” Tucker said that starting at 9 a.m. Korean War Veteran Ron Miller and World War II Veteran Cal Burr will be putting up flags around the square with other VFW members and American Legion members.

This will be followed at 11 a.m. by Tucker giving a brief statement at the Veterans Memorial addressing the public about Veterans Day. He added that after his statement the VFW Chaplain will give a short prayer, followed by the Veterans Honor Guard, with members of both the VFW and the American Legion, who will give a three volleys solute. Tucker said the the ceremony will be closed with the playing of taps.

Directly following the outdoor ceremony there will be a free-will chili feed at the Havre Elks Lodge. The chili feed will have guest speakers and is open to the public to attend, Tucker said. He added that the speakers will be Elks Lodge member Bob Newbauer and Dale Herd.

“We would just appreciate everyone coming out and supporting our veterans,” Tucker said.

Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day and was celebrated for the first time Nov. 11, 1919, which was the first anniversary of the end of World War I. World War I was often thought of as the “Last Great War” before military tactics and modern weapons revolutionized warfare in World War II.

Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also celebrate WWI and WWII veterans on or near the Nov. 11 date in remembrance of their respected veterans.

In 1926, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance and in 1938 Veterans Day became a national holiday.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1954, officially changed the name from “Armistice Day” to Veterans Day.

Sunday, the nation will recognize all veterans who have given their lives and fought to protect their country’s freedom.

According to online resources more than 16 million veterans are alive who served in at least one war, more than 5 million who served during peacetime and more than 2 million veterans who are women.

More than 16 million Americans served during WWII, with only about 500,000 still alive.