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Americans like to remember, observe and sometimes even celebrate special events. Some of these special days bring joy and happiness into our lives. Others bring back sorrow and sadness, even tears.
September begins with Labor Day on the first Monday. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation into law creating Labor Day as a federal holiday in the United States. Established following massive and controversial labor unrest, Labor Day was set up to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States.
Each year on Sept. 2 we recognize and celebrate V-J Day. On this day in 1945, the Japanese government formally signed the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri, ending the long and bloody war between the United States and the Japanese empire.
Of course, many will never forget the events of Sept. 11, 2001. That is the day Islamist terrorists hijacked several U.S. commercial airplanes, filled with passengers and flew them into iconic US buildings. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Both buildings soon collapsed, killing over 2,000 occupants and rescue workers. Partially destroyed on the same day, by a separate hijacked plane, was the Pentagon building. The brave passengers of a fourth plane were able to thwart the plans of the hijackers. This plane was crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing all on board. September 11 is recognized each year as “Patriot Day.”
In 1956 the United States Congress adopted a public law setting aside September 17-23 annually as “Constitution Week.” President Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Aug. 2, 1956. This holiday commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. With this adoption, the 13 individual nations formed from 13 British colonies formally declared themselves to be one nation: The United States of America. I encourage you to acquire, read and study this important document.
On the third Friday of September, (which falls on the 20th this year) we observe “National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This day is set aside to recognize our service men and women who were either interred in foreign prisoner of war camps and/or have been declared as missing in action. I once worked for a man who spent several months in a WWII German Prisoner of War Camp. He was still suffering from his experience, many years later.
On the last Sunday of September each year we recognize Gold Star mothers, women who are entitled to display a gold star on a service flag as the mother, stepmother, adoptive mother, or foster mother of a United States Armed Forces member who died while engaged in action against an enemy recognized by the Secretary of Defense. The Gold Star symbol originated during World War I. In a previous column I wrote about these mothers, and how the number of flags dwindled during my childhood. I can only imagine the sorrow of the women who are entitled to display this flag.
While not an official national holiday, each year thousands of Americans observe Sept. 14 as a National Day of Remembrance. This day has been set aside to remember the 65 million babies killed in abortions in the United States alone.
Each year on Sept. 18 we celebrate the birthday of the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard. Initially set aside by President Truman on Aug. 1, 1947, to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Signal Corps, the date was later changed to Sept. 18, which now commemorates the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as an independent branch of our Armed Forces.
Air Force Day is celebrated to honor the establishment and achievements of the U.S. Air Force.
Another widely celebrated unofficial holiday is VFW Day, celebrated on Sept. 29 each year. The day is set aside to celebrate the founding of the VFW on Sept. 29, 1899, by a group of 13 veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine insurrection.
These, and other, days of remembrance are an important part of the fabric of the United States of America. We are a great nation. Are we perfect? Of course not! It is important to remember that under the Constitution of the United States we have grown and prospered. It is important that we continue to grow and prosper under the United States Constitution. When we abandon the principles of our founding documents, we do so at great peril in our dangerous world.
Mike Lang, Chairman, Union County Republican Central Committee