On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced plans to narrow the scope of Veterans Day, a holiday with origins in Emporia. On Friday, the White House began backtracking from that idea.
Trump’s plan to rename Nov. 11 as Victory Day for World War I drew the ire of local veterans. Phil Sickler says, “It narrows the meaning of a day meant to unify our nation in gratitude. It risks overshadowing veterans of other generations and conflicts, whose sacrifices are no less worthy of recognition. This isn’t about politics. It’s about respect. Veterans Day belongs to all who served — and it should stay that way.” Ed Rathke agrees.
Meanwhile, Veterans of Foreign Wars says it reached out to the White House to clarify the Trump plan and to remind him of the VFW’s continued endorsement of having Veterans Day honor all veterans and their service. Disabled American Veterans issued a statement saying “no” on the Trump plan. The American Legion has declined comment.
Both Rathke and Sickler say any Victory Day should take place on a day other than Veterans Day. Trump’s revised plan, however, would use Victory Day for World War I as “an additional proclamation that goes out on that day,” according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
11 am Friday: Trump pitches new name for Veterans Day: Victory Day for World War I
Emporia will never lose its status as the founding city of Veterans Day, but a name change has been floated that would drastically narrow the scope of the day.
President Trump says he wants to change the name of Veterans Day to Victory Day for World War I, reflecting the original name of Armistice Day instead of the plan in place since the 1950s to honor veterans and their sacrifices, regardless of the military conflict. Trump has also said he wants to create Victory Day for World War II on May 8. On social media, Trump says America “won both wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything,…because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”
As of 10:30 am, there has been no official reaction from the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars, either nationally or locally.
Veterans Day started after Emporian Alvin King suggested Armistice Day be changed to Veterans Day, thus giving a broader reach to honor veterans of all wars. Emporia had the first celebration in 1953. After a proposal by Kansas Congressman Ed Rees and action by then-President Dwight Eisenhower, Veterans Day was celebrated for the first time nationally in 1954.
Under current law, any change of this nature requires the passage of a law by Congress.
