Honoring Those Who’ve Served and Sacrificed

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  • Washita County’s Honor Roll, which used to stand in downtown Cordell. Photo courtesy of Keith Gerlach.
    Washita County’s Honor Roll, which used to stand in downtown Cordell. Photo courtesy of Keith Gerlach.
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On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 World War I officially ended when the armistice between Germany and the allied nations came into effect. One year later, Nov. 11, 1919, the first Armistice Day was celebrated in the United States. On that day, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it to be a day “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who had died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”

Congress made the day an official holiday in 1938, and passed a resolution to request the president to “issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Nov. 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.”

In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, America’s veterans services organizations requested Congress change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, in recognition and honor of all America’s veterans. Congress approved the change June 1, 1954, and Veterans Day was officially born.

The men and women of Washita County have a long and proud tradition of military service, a tradition the Cordell Beacon will honor in our Nov. 6, 2019, edition. The Beacon is asking for the public’s help in honoring the men and women of Washita County who’ve served in uniform by sending in photos of Washita County veterans, past and present, to editor@cordellbeacon.com.

“We feel strongly that the service and sacrifice of Washita County’s veterans should be recognized in our last edition before Veterans Day,” said managing editor Bob Henline. “But to make that happen, we need everyone’s help. We need photos of Washita County veterans to print as part of this salute to our veterans. Photos of the veterans in uniform during their days of service would be fantastic, but any photograph of a Washita County veteran will be appreciated.”

The best way to send photos is through email to editor@cordellbeacon.com, but for those who are unable to email, photos can be brought to the Beacon office at 115 E. Main Street in Cordell. Beacon staff will scan the photo and return it immediately. Photos must be received by 4:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. For more information, please call Bob Henline at 580.832.3333.