Cobb Veterans Memorial - Cobb County Georgia

Veterans Day Celebration of Service

Join us on Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a celebration of service. World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, but the fighting ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 when the Armistice was put into effect by the Allies and Germany. This suspension of hostilities was considered at the time to be the end of the war to end all wars. One year later, the Armistice was celebrated by the nation and in 1938 became a national holiday.

Armistice Day was to be a day in which our Nation paused to honor all the Veterans of WWI. However, after WWII and the Korean War, the Nov. 11 commemoration was changed to honor all veterans of all wars.

History of the Holiday

In 1954, President Eisenhower changed the national holiday name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In June 1968 under President Johnson, the official day of celebration was modified by Congress in the Uniform Holidays Bill to be the fourth Monday in October. The hope was that the long weekend would stimulate the economy with travel and other celebrations. The first Veterans Day under this new bill was celebrated on Oct. 25, 1971.

Although Oct. 25 was the first new Veterans Day date, many states decided to continue commemorating veterans on Nov. 11. It took about four years for Congress to realize that U.S. citizens honored the significance of what happened on Nov. 11, 1918 and were going to continue to celebrate Veterans Day on that historic date rather than the day stipulated in the Uniform Holidays Bill. On Sep. 20, 1975, President Ford signed another bill to return the celebration of the Veterans Day national holiday to Nov. 11th of each year, starting in 1978.

To this day, countries around the world still celebrate veterans on Nov. 11. The name of the holiday may vary, but sentiments for the service and sacrifice of veterans remains the same.

Cobb County History

In Cobb County Georgia, Veterans Day has been celebrated with parades and festivities for many years. Cobb County has a long history of military service to include the armistice of WWI, when the significance of the holiday began.

Headlines on the Cobb County Times reported the casualties of WWI. Cobb County not only contributed in lives, but raised thousands of dollars in one day to support the United War Work Fund, a fundraising effort to help with the demobilization of the war and funding of the subsequent occupation. 

Cobb County is proud of its rich history and service to our Nation. This history is the story of why and for whom the Cobb Veterans Memorial is being built. Help us continue to honor and celebrate the legacies of all those who serve.
 

References

History.com Editors. (2021, November 8). Veterans Day Facts. Retrieved from History,com: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

Staff Reporter. (1918, November 14). Cobb County News. Retrieved from MDJ Archives Services: https://www.mdjonline.com/

Signing by the President Upon Signing the Uniform Holiday Bill (June 28, 1968): https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-the-president-upon-signing-the-uniform-holiday-bill

The History of Georgia in WWI. (2020, September 29). Retrieved from The United States World War One Centennial Commission: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/georgia-ww1-history-page.html

Local Cobb County News Archives. Retrieved from Marietta Daily Journal Online Archives (1866-October 1998) https://www.mdjonline.com/archives/

The Great War and Catholic Memory. The United War Work Fund: http://omeka.archnyarchives.org/exhibits/show/archnyww1/fundraising/warwork

Veterans day: A Short History

Cobb County Times Nov. 14, 1918

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 the Armistice took effect and what was to become known as World War I ended. One year later this Armistice was celebrated by the nation on the anniversary of this date and in 1938 would become a nationally recognized holiday called Veterans Day.  

Georgia contributed much to this war effort with over 100,000 serving or in support roles. It is estimated that more than 3700 Georgians died in the conflict. Cobb County was not spared casualties. On the front page of the Cobb County Times for November 14, 1918 where the Armistice was reported, four soldiers with ties to Cobb were reported to have perished in the fight.

Not only did Cobb pay in lives, the County contributed dollars in support of the United War Work Fund. On this same day in 1918, it was reported that over $6000 dollars was raised in Cobb County in one day, from a population of fewer than 30,000 citizens. While a modest amount in today’s dollars, $6,000 in 1918 would be worth $112,000 in 2020. 

Cobb County is, rightfully, proud of the service their Soldiers and their community has provided the Nation. This series will reflect on this deep history by drawing on the written, imagery and oral remembrances of those who have called Cobb a home or enjoyed its graces. 

This living history is dedicated to recording the story of why and for whom the Cobb Veterans Memorial is being built. Readers are encouraged to add their stories of service in the Comments. Help us build this Memorial as a dedication to service and a rich legacy for Cobb and the Nation.

References

History.com Editors. (2019, November 11). Veterans Day Facts. Retrieved from History,com: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/veterans-day-facts

Staff Reporter. (1918, November 14). Cobb County News. Retrieved from MDJ Archives Services: https://www.mdjonline.com/

The History of Georgia in WWI. (2020, September 29). Retrieved from The United States World War One Centennial Commission: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/georgia-ww1-history-page.html

Local Cobb County News Archives. Retrieved from Marietta Daily Journal Online Archives (1866-October 1998) https://www.mdjonline.com/archives/