Since Veterans Day is this week, I thought it was time for a little history lesson about how it came to be. Armistice Day started on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of WWI. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance and became a national holiday beginning in 1938. In 1954, President Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 President Ford returned Veterans Day to Nov. 11, due to the important historical significance of the date.
Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World Wars I and II on or near Nov. 11: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). In Europe, Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every Nov. 11. To all of our veterans who have served, thank you for our freedom. Your sacrifices have paid off for all of us and for this we are all grateful.
On Wednesday, the Olequa Senior Center will host special guest speaker Rick Campbell, and he will be talking about "Five Wishes". Daily lunches for the public are served for $4 on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (reservations appreciated) and senior lunches (must be 60 or older) on Wednesday and Friday. (A $3 donation is suggested.) Their meals for the coming days are as follows: BBQ ribs, broccoli, peaches and white bread on Wednesday, sloppy Joes on Thursday and Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts plums and wheat bread on Friday, soup and sandwiches on Monday and a guest chef on Tuesday.
Winolequa Garden Club will be meeting in the fellowship hall of the Toledo Presbyterian Church, located at 312 Augustus St., on Nov. 18 at the usual time. This is also the Thanksgiving potluck and there is plenty of room, so bring a friend or two. If you have questions, please call Kristine Brummer at (360) 785-3979 or Sandra Bickar at (360) 864-2601.
On Wednesday, the Winlock Timberland Library's Artisan Silent Auction begins and goes through Nov. 26. Friday is Youth Page Turners "The Book of Three from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. for grades 4 -6. Friday international games day between head of down to the library for International Games day. Try out a variety of board and card games.
If you know a Veteran or see one on the street this week, please stop and tell them "Thank you for serving", they are the reason we are walking free on our streets today!