Loyalty Day
May 1
The U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars designated the first day of May as Loyalty Day in 1947. The intention was to direct attention away from the Communist Party in the United States, which was using U.S. May Day rallies to promote its doctrines and sign up new members. The idea caught on, and soon Loyalty Day was being celebrated throughout the country with parades, school programs, patriotic exercises, and speeches on the importance of showing loyalty to the United States. In Delaware, for example, Loyalty Day was marked by a special ceremony at Cooch's Bridge, where the Stars and Stripes were first displayed in battle. And in New York City, the Loyalty Day parade routinely attracted tens of thousands of participants.
Dissent over American intervention in Vietnam eventually eroded the popularity of Loyalty Day, and in 1968 only a few thousand marchers turned out for the traditional parades in Manhattan and Brooklyn, while 87,000 people participated in the Vietnam peace march in Central Park. Loyalty Day was later replaced by Law Day.
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Loyalty Day
For other uses, see Loyalty Day (Argentina).
| Loyalty Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | United States |
| Date | May 1 |
| Celebrations | Special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom[1] |
Loyalty Day is observed on May 1 in the United States. It is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.
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Contents
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History
The holiday was first observed in 1921[2] as "Americanization Day,"[3] and was intended to counterbalance the celebration of Labour Day on May Day (May 1), an internationally celebrated holiday for the commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886.
Loyalty Day is celebrated with parades and ceremonies in several U.S. communities, like Batavia, Illinois, although many people in the United States remain unaware of it. Although a legal holiday, it is not a federal holiday, and is not commonly observed.
It was made an official holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958 (Public Law 85-529).[4][5] Following the passage of this law, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1959 the first official observance of Loyalty Day. [6]
With the exception of Eisenhower in 1959 and 1960, and the years 1966 thru 1974, Loyalty day has been recognized with an official proclamation every year by every president since its inception as a legal holiday in 1958.[7]
Statutory definition
Loyalty Day is defined as follows in 36 U.S.C. § 115:
- (a) Designation.— May 1 is Loyalty Day.
- (b) Purpose.— Loyalty Day is a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.
- (c) Proclamation.— The President is requested to issue a proclamation—
- (1) calling on United States Government officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Loyalty Day; and
- (2) inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places.
See also
References
- ^ "§ 115. Loyalty Day". U.S. Code collection. LII / Legal Information Institute. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/usc_sec_36_00000115----000-.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ Conn, Matt, "Loyalty Day celebration set for return to Medford" Wed, Mar 24, 2004, the Wausau Daily Herald
- ^ VFW Loyalty Day
- ^ Notes on 36 U.S.C. § 115
- ^ Eisenhower's signing statement
- ^ Proclamation by Eisenhower in 1959, citing Congress's joint resolution of July 18, 1958
- ^ Search for "Loyalty Day" on the presidency project
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