Veterans Day 2021

DeSoto ISD's Veterans Day Tribute
Posted on 11/04/2021
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DeSoto High School JROTC will present their annual Veterans Day Celebration at 9:30 am on Wednesday November 10th, in the DeSoto High School Fred Nickels auditorium. The public is invited to join in the celebration.  Veterans are also invited to a special reception which begins at 8:45 am for special greetings and recognition. 
 

The JROTC is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act.  The Eagle Battalion was established in August 1993 by Colonel Dennis Cross and Command Sergeant Major Roy McCormes. DeSoto ISD proudly sponsors the DeSoto ISD Eagle Battalion which has five companies - Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo. DeSoto ISD also supports three Junior Corp Cadet (JCC) programs - one at each of the three DeSoto middle schools. The district and instructors of the JROTC program subscribe to the JROTC vision and goals of the federal program.
 

Eagle Battalion is active throughout the school year, including numerous public presentations of colors at assemblies, meetings, sporting events and other school and community activities.  During Veterans Day season, students support many community programs including the City of DeSoto’s annual Vet Fest, Friend’s Place Adult Day Care Center’s Veterans Program and marching in Dallas’ Veterans Day Parade. The DHS program provides opportunities for JROTC to engage the student body in celebrating the contributions of veterans in DeSoto ISD as well as the community at large.  
 

“It is important for DeSoto High School to celebrate Veterans Day to thank the many members of this great nation who have sacrificed so much” stated LtCol Russell Hooper, Director of JROTC Programs in DeSoto ISD “We must constantly be reminded of the fact that “freedom isn’t free”; many veterans who give selflessly for our freedom, walk among us every day.”
 

DeSoto ISD appreciates and celebrates the service of our employees who are veterans, and after giving so much, continue to pour into the lives of future generations.  
 

History of Veterans Day*
 

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
 

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
 

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.
 

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

*History of Veterans Day Source: military.com