Veterans' Day 2002

Veterans' Day
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2002

In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, the world rejoiced and celebrated. After four years of bitter war, an armistice was signed. The "war to end all wars" was over. November 11 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States, to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the war in order to ensure a lasting peace. Congress voted Armistice Day a legal holiday in 1938, twenty years after the war ended. But Americans realized that the previous war would not be the last one. World War II began the following year, and nations great and small again participated in a bloody struggle. After the Second World War, Armistice Day continued to be observed on November 11. Soon after, Congress passed a bill introduced by a Kansas congressman renaming the national holiday to Veterans' Day.

ORNL will hold its annual Veterans' Day observance at 9 a.m. Monday, November 11, in Wigner Auditorium.

Retired Four-Star U.S. Army Gen. Carl Stiner, who resides in Campbell County, will be the program's keynote speaker.

General Stiner was only the second commander of SOCOM, responsible for the readiness of all the special-operations forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force including the Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Rangers, Air Force Special Operations, PsyOps, Civil Affairs and other special-mission units. Together Gen. Stiner and Tom Clancy wrote a book, "Shadow Warriors" which traces the transformation of the Special Forces from the small core of outsiders of the 1950's to their rebirth in the late 1980's, and the bearer of the largest, most mixed and complex missions in the United States military during the '90's. (excerpt from the U.S. Army, Public Affairs web site)

The singing group Red, White and Blues Brothers(Randy Smith, George Houser, Jeff Long, Mark Kohring) will perform a medley of service and patriotic songs.

All attendees are asked to be seated no later than 8:55 a.m.

8:45 Music begins in Wigner Auditorium
8:55 Bearden NJROTC lines up for a procession in back of Wigner
9:00 Color Guard post colors in front of Wigner
9:02 Pledge of Allegiance led by Bill Madia followed by singing of National Anthem
9:05 Bill Madia gives welcome and introduces Red, White and Blues Brothers to sing medley of service songs--Veterans are invited to stand when their service song is sung.
9:15 Madia introduces Frank Akers
9:17 Akers introduces General Carl Stiner
9:20-9:35 General Stiner address
9:35 Madia invites all to join in with Red, White, and Blues Brothers for singing of patriotic songs medley
9:45 Madia calls for a moment of silence followed by John Murphy playing "Taps"
9:47 Closing of ceremony by Bill Madia

All Veterans are invited to wear their uniforms on Veterans' Day.

Don't forget to sign the
Veterans Board in the hall
near the Weinberg Auditorium

A special Veterans' Day lunch will be offered in the Cafeteria.

Veterans and Military Links
These links were supplied by various people who have an interest in Veteran information. The list is not intended to be complete since there are thousands of websites relating to Veterans. However, if you have a link that you think should be included here, please send it to the ORNL EEO/Diversity Office.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Star Spangled Banner video and sound from the Smithsonian
Arlington National Cemetery
The American Bald Eagle
The United States Flag
Gun Salutes
The National Cemetery System
The Pledge of Allegiance
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Story of Taps
The Origins of Veterans Day
Tribute to USS Cole "Fallen Heros"
The Avalon Project: WWII Documents
WWWI Posters
The American Legion, The World's Largest Veterans Organization
Army & Navy Union U.S.A., "The oldest veterans organization in America"
Blinded Veterans Association
Disabled American Veterans
Founding dates of Military Organizations
Legion of Valor
The Marine Corps League National Headquarters Home Page
The Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S. A., Inc. is a Congressionally chartered national service veterans organization.
Paralyzed Veterans of America
The Retired Enlisted Association
The Retired Officers Association (TROA)
Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs
Vietnam Veterans of American
U.S. National Archives

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