PROPOSALS TO MERGE ELECTION DAY AND VETERANS DAY ARE A TRAVESTY

Nicola L. Luciani, Department Commander

The proposals keep surfacing again and again from different quarters but they all sound cuckoo to me. What do we call the new thing, Electerans Day? The Genius's who dream up these nutty ideas should maybe go all the way. Why not merge Christmas and Easter, Valentine Day and Thanksgiving, Columbus Day and Halloween? Hey, I even like the idea of July 4th and Labor Day. What a super shopping weekend that would be!

Well, it's all ridiculous, of course. The proposals to combine Veterans Day with Election Day amount to "an ill-advised affront to the service and sacrifice of this nation's veterans." One such proposal is contained in a 105-page election reform report from the National Commission on Federal Election chaired by former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. The 19-member panel recommended moving the Veterans Day holiday in even-numbered years to Election Day to boost voter turnout. Baloney. Joe Public will only get mad and complain he/she is losing one shopping day.

"Similarly misguided efforts to merge Veterans Day and Election Day into a single national holiday have been proposed in Congress and should be defeated," National Commander George H. Steese said.

"While there may be good arguments for making Election Day a national holiday. Veterans Day must retain its unique character as a day set aside to honor the men and women who have defended our freedom throughout our history,'' said Commander Steese. "Veterans Day, November 11, has deep significance for our nation. Originally designated to commemorate the end of World War I, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Veterans Day has since become a day set aside to honor all who have served in our nation's defense. It would be unconscionable to diminish the significance of Veterans Day by combining it with Election Day."

DAVNY Home Page / Hot Topics / Action Line / Join the DAV / Administration / Newsletter
Newsletter Archive / Chapters / Events / DAV License Plates / Links of Interest / Send Us E-Mail /

Page Last Reviewed/Modified: