Veterans Day Concert
About the Veterans Day Concert
November 3, 2010 at 7:00 pm
The Central Dauphin High School Concert Bands present an annual Veterans Day
Concert on a Wednesday in early November in the Central Dauphin High School
auditorium. Band Director Mr. Matthew Ceresini and the
members
of the Central Dauphin High School Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble extend
an invitation to all local veterans and their families to attend this
event. We ask that if you know veterans or know folks who know veterans,
please pass along the Bands' invitations to attend this free event. The
musical selection will feature a musical tribute to those who have served
our country as well as lots of other patriotic music!
About Veterans Day
On November 11, 1918, the Allies and the Germans signed an armistice that
ended four years of conflict later known as World War I. In November of
1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation, which
captures the spirit of the observance
today.
President Wilson noted, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day
will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the
country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the
thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given
America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the
nation."
In 1921, an American soldier—his name “known but to God”—was buried on a
Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington,
DC. The burial site of this
unknown
World War I soldier in Arlington National Cemetery symbolized dignity and
reverence for America's veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in
England and France, where an “unknown soldier” of the Great War was buried
in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in
France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on
November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World
War I hostilities at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th
day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice
Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional
resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar
Congressional action.
If World War I had indeed been “the war to end all wars,” November 11 might
still be called Armistice Day. But in 1939, World War II broke out in Europe
and shattered that dream. Of the 16 million Americans who served in the
Armed Forces during World War II, more than 400,000 died. In response to
numerous petitions to honor also
veterans
of the Second World War, Congress in 1954 changed what had been known as
Armistice Day to Veterans' Day. President Eisenhower called on all citizens
to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so
gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring
peace. The President explained the purpose of the change of name to Veterans
Day was to honor the servicemen of all America's wars.
The Central Dauphin High School bands seek to fulfill the hopes of Presidents Wilson and Eisenhower by honoring through music our nation's veterans. Please join us for our Veterans Day Concert!
