The Fountain Hills Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Fountain Hills Veterans Memorial at Fountain Park Saturday, Nov. 11, starting at 9 a.m.

This year’s Veterans Day ceremony will be led by VFW Post 7507, commanded by Bill Luzinski.

The keynote speaker is Vietnam Veteran Frank Lambert, the Veterans Heritage Program’s storyteller of the year.

After graduating from West Point in 1964, Lambert attended Airborne and Ranger Training and Jungle Survival School  until assigned Company Commander of Co. D, 5/7, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam, where he earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Silver Star, the Soldier’s Medal, three Bronze Stars w/V (valor) and two Purple Hearts.

The VFW Post 7507 and the VFW State of Arizona Teacher of the Year Kim Flowers will be present with many of her students at the ceremony, according to U.S. Navy Veteran Boe James, Adjutant at VFW Post 7507.

As usual, the Veterans Day ceremony is a joint effort of the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) in Fountain Hills including the American Legion Post 58, Marine Corps League Detachment 1439 and Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7507.

Celebrating Armistice Day

Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, is a day for recognizing those who have served in our nation’s armed forces.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. While the official designation of the name “Armistice Day” was not made by Congress until May 13, 1938, Congress passed a joint resolution on June 4, 1926, calling upon the president to issue a proclamation recognizing the end of World War I and stating, in part, “this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”

Armistice Day was also designated a legal holiday on May 13, 1938.

“Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the nation’s history,” said James. “After American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word ‘Armistice’ and inserting in lieu thereof the word ‘Veterans.’”

In 1971, Congress passed a bill creating three-day weekends by moving several holidays to either a Friday or a Monday, James said, adding that Veterans Day was one such holiday.

“Fortunately, they saw the error of their ways and the date was restored to November 11th in 1975,” James said. “The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

The Fountain Hills Veterans Memorial is located at 17166 E. El Lago Blvd. The Fountain Hills Veterans Day Ceremony is open to the public, and all are invited to attend.