Bullock presented Veterans Day program to DAR

Members of the Samuel Paul Dinkins Chapter met at the Kilgore Public Library with Eloise Duncan, Helen Merrill, Agnes Oliver, Marguerite Lesley and Nancy Bullock serving as hostesses. Joan Smith, Regent, called the meeting to order and with the assistance of Martha Smith, Chaplain, led members in the DAR Ritual, the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America, the Salute to the Texas Flag, the American's Creed and the National Anthem.

"Let's Rededicate Ourselves to American Principles," an article written by Dorothy Ward, was read by Dorothy Brooks, National Defense Chairman. Dorothy stated that "now as never before, we need men and women who understand that being an American is more than living in America. Being an American is a concept based on a set of values and ideals. It is a burning patriotism that believes that this country is the best in the world, inferior to no other nation, with no apology. We have been electing politicians rather than statesmen to govern us. American jobs are vanishing as U.S. companies close plants and outsource to locations overseas or south of the border.

"The Rule of Law is being eroded by a government that refuses to enforce our laws. Political correctness has stifled freedom of expression and common sense. Where once there was integrity, honesty, and decency, we have lowered the flag of righteousness by allowing moral decay to eat away the very fiber of American society.

"A move toward globalism called the Security And Prosperity Partnership which will bring us closer to the North American Union erases the borders between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This is a giant step to One World Government or a 'new world order' and the United States will fade into oblivion.

"Taken individually, the problems we face are not insurmountable; but collectively, the life-threatening condition plaguing this nation may prove to be fatal unless action is taken to reverse our direction."

Nancy Bullock gave a program about Veterans Day which is celebrated each Nov. 11 and is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military in wartime or in peacetime.

Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on Nov. 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, Nov. 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day."

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress, at the urging of veterans' service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "armistice" and inserting the word "veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968 the Uniform Holiday Bill came about and ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971. However, in September of 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11 date, beginning in 1976.

Samuel Paul Dinkins Chapter DAR encourages women who have proved descent from a Revolutionary ancestor and who are interested in joining DAR to contact Joan Smith, Regent at 903-984-5383.