BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
Bill No: SB 1057
Author: Denham
Version: As Introduced February 16, 2010
Hearing Date: April 13, 2010
Fiscal: Yes
Consultant: Donald E. Wilson
SUBJECT OF BILL
Observation of Veterans' Day
PROPOSED LAW
Requires Veterans' Day to be observed by all state agencies
on the actual date of Veterans' Day, November 11.
EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND
World War 1 or, as it was known then, "the war to end all
wars" engaged the globe in a conflict that because of its
heinous nature had people hoping that war would not be seen
again.
The armistice on the Western front of the war was signed at
11:00 am on the 11th of November 1918 giving the phrase
that every one in the civilized world would know for
decades: "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the
eleventh month."
Congress made Armistice Day an official day in 1938.
In 1939, with the advent of World War 2, Armistice Day
became Veterans' Day to honor all those who had fought in
any war.
In 1954 President Dwight David Eisenhower made the name
change official by signing House Resolution (H.R.) 7786.
In 1968 Congress had forgotten the significance of
Veterans' Day and changed Veterans' Day to the fourth
Monday of October making the day just an excuse for a
three-day weekend.
The backhanded slap at those who have preserved our liberty
was protested. After ten years, in 1978, Congress was
convinced of its mistake and was compelled to return
Veterans' Day to its proper observation day of November 11.
According to the author, "SB 1057 was inspired by a
letter-to-the-editor in the Sacramento Bee (11/16/09) from
Marian Forness (Rancho Cordova), whose late husband served
this country in the United States Air Force for 20 years.
She noted in her letter that the State Senate took Friday,
November 13, 2009 off instead of Veterans' Day on
Wednesday, November 11, so it could have a three-day
weekend."
COMMENT
1. RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT- For clarity's sake, since
this bill is about a debate over the observation of
when is the date of Veterans' Day lines 8 and 9 should
be changed from "shall be closed on the Veterans' Day
holiday" to "shall be closed on November 11th,
Veterans' Day."
2. American soldiers have laid down their lives down
on the alter of freedom in great numbers throughout
the 20th century. 116,516 Americans died in WW I.
264,000 wounded. Over 4,355,000 fought. 407,000
Americans died in WW II. 671,485 wounded. Over
16,000,000 million fought. 36,914 Americans died in
Korea. Over 92,000 wounded. Over 1,789,000 fought.
Somewhere on the Korean peninsula over 8,000 Americans
remain: they are missing in action (MIA). 58,000
Americans died in Vietnam. 300,000 were wounded.
Approximately 2.5 million served. Over 2,000 American
military personnel remain in the jungles of Vietnam:
they are MIA.
3. This country has paid a heavy price to preserve
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itself, and the currency it pays with is the best and
brightest of its youth. Any civilized society
understands that truth, which is the reason Veterans'
Day was set as a reminder for all.
4. According to the author's office those who
served-especially those who died-deserve more respect
than to be told it is too inconvenient to have their
day of honor when it happens to fall during the middle
of the week.
5. This is a new bill. There are no previous votes.
SUPPORT
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
OPPOSE
None received
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