From: glevy@PRATT.EDU
Date: Sun May 01 2005 - 10:37:50 EDT
Happy Loyalty Day, 2005!
May 1 is Loyalty Day
====================
"Loyalty Day is a special day for a reaffirmation of loyalty to
the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of
American Freedom"
< http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/usc_sec_36_00000115----000-.html >
The Origins of Loyalty Day
==========================
(Note grammatical errors in following.)
"Though the exact beginning of the date of oobservance is not known, the
concept stemmed in the 1930s. The bid to celebrate May Day as Loyalty
Day came in rather as a counteractive bid. A bid to counteract the May Day
communist exhibitions in the United States. Members of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars thought that a challenge must be given to what they
considered as the 'disruptive forces of the communism'. And they wanted
that the loyalty of Americans to the American ideals must be asserted to
prevent the growth of communism in America. So, in the early 1930s they
began urging the institution of war veterans with organized parades and
ceremonies. Other patriotic organizations joined in. And with the help
of speaker's ureaus and an extensive
letter-writing campaign, celebrations on the theme of loyalty to
America took hold. This was aided by patriotic plays, oratory
contests on national issues and tours to national shrines. They were
sponsored by schools, churches, labor unions, fraternal societies and ther
groups.
While the concept came into being quite early in the '30s giving rise to
various functions, it took until 1949 to proclaim the observance of
Loyalty Day. And this was when fourty nine states and territorial
governors joined in. Thanks to the efforts of Senator Karl Mundt of
North Dakota and Representative James E. Van Zandt of Pennsylvania. In May
1, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it a day of
national observance.
In 1932 some patriotic organizations were encouraged by the Loyalty Day
concept and wanted to do something more to inspire loyalty to the
nation. So, the concept of Americanism Day came into being to be
celebrated on the same day of the Loyalty Day. The first Americanism
parade was held in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 1932. The day has since
merged with the Loyalty Day."
< http://www.theholidayspot.com/mayday/loyalty_day.htm >
G.W. to the Rescue
==================
Many U.S. citizens had forgotten about Loyalty Day. President
G.W. Bush decided to do something about that. Beginning in 2001,
several months after the U.S. Supreme Court appointed him
President, he issued the following proclamation:
< http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/04/20010426-4.html# >
He has issued a similar proclamation every year since. Here's the
announcement for last year:
< http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/04/20040430-15.html# >
What you can do
===============
Fly the Stars and Stripes from your residence and place of work.
Attend local observances in support of Loyalty Day.
Pray to Your Personal Savior, Jesus Christ:
* Dear Lord, we ask that you place your hand on the shoulder of G.W.
Bush -- President of the United States -- and thereby give him the
strength so that he can continue to follow Your Will and protect Your
beloved nation, the United States of America, from Evil-Doers -- at home
and abroad. Amen.*
What Will the Evil Doers, including Communists and Flag-Burning
===============================================================
Anarchists, do on May 1?
========================
THEY WILL CELEBRATE MAY DAY, OF COURSE.
*** HAPPY MAY DAY, 2005! ***
In solidarity, Jerry
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