WHEREAS, The people of California have a special affinity for, and are greatly indebted to, the myriad of brave men and women in the United States military who serve and have served to protect and defend our precious freedom; and

WHEREAS, All Californians are encouraged to remember the great debt of gratitude that we as free Californians owe to veterans; and

WHEREAS, Since the days of the American Revolution (1776-1781), nearly 42,000,000 patriots have taken up arms to defend the United States of America and to guarantee that the blessings of liberty are, indeed, secure; and

WHEREAS, The significance of November 11 was originally set aside as Armistice Day in the United States to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the First World War (1914-1918) in order to ensure a lasting peace; and

WHEREAS, On Armistice Day 1918, soldiers who survived the terrific onslaught and loss of life brought on by “The Great War,” as it was often referred to, marched in parades through their hometowns and were treated to great victory speeches given by politicians and veteran officers of the day; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-two years ago, in 1938, 20 years after World War I had concluded, the United States Congress voted to make Armistice Day a legal holiday; and

WHEREAS, Forty-seven years ago, in 1953, the townspeople of Emporia, Kansas, were first attributed to calling the new federal holiday Veterans Day, in tribute to the town’s many servicemen and women veterans; and

WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, a popular movement focused its attention and efforts upon our nation’s capitol toward the renaming of Armistice Day, a legal holiday honoring veterans from World War I, to more appropriately Veterans Day, a legal holiday specifically honoring all veterans of the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of, and gratitude for, the contributions of those who have served in our Armed Forces, the United States Congress has designated November 11 of each year as a legal public holiday (5 U.S.C. Sec. 6103(a)) to honor America’s veterans; and

WHEREAS, Americans still give thanks for peace on Veterans Day, often participating in local ceremonies, speeches, town picnics, and parades; and

WHEREAS, Each year, on the 11th day of the 11th month, November, we pause to look back and reflect with pride and profound gratitude upon achievements of our nation’s veterans; and

WHEREAS, California has strong commitment to those who have served their nation during times of war; and

WHEREAS, Many structures and monuments have been erected in observance of the service and great sacrifices of all California’s estimated 3,300,000 veterans (13 percent of the nation’s veteran population); and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate, on this 82nd anniversary of the first Armistice Day, that California’s veterans be commemorated for their heroic efforts in the struggle for democracy; now, therefore, be it