File #: Res 0578-2006    Version: * Name: NYC Department of Education to make Veterans Day a permanent school holiday.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 10/25/2006
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to make Veterans Day a permanent school holiday.
Sponsors: Vincent J. Gentile, Robert Jackson, Tony Avella, Alan J. Gerson, Sara M. Gonzalez, Darlene Mealy, Rosie Mendez, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., David I. Weprin, Melinda R. Katz, James F. Gennaro, James S. Oddo, Lewis A. Fidler, Thomas White, Jr., James Sanders, Jr., James Vacca, Helen D. Foster
Council Member Sponsors: 19
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2009*Vincent J. Gentile City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/25/2006*Vincent J. Gentile City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/25/2006*Vincent J. Gentile City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 578

Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to make Veterans Day a permanent school holiday.

By Council Members Gentile, Jackson, Avella, Gerson, Gonzalez, Mealy, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Recchia Jr., Weprin, Katz, Gennaro, Oddo, Fidler, White Jr., Sanders Jr., Vacca, and Foster

Whereas, Veterans Day, celebrated on November 11th, was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I; and

Whereas, The Armistice was signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918; and

Whereas, In 1919, Armistice Day was first celebrated under the leadership of President Woodrow Wilson, and in 1926 Congress passed a resolution inviting all Americans to observe the day; and

Whereas, In 1938 Armistice Day was made into a nationwide legal holiday; and

Whereas, Armistice Day was officially renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower with the signing of House Resolution 7786 on June 1, 1954 to honor all those who have served in American Wars; and

Whereas, According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 24.9 million military veterans in the United States, with more than 1.2 million veterans coming from New York State alone; and

Whereas, Veterans have served in numerous conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas, It is essential to honor veterans for their work and sacrifice in safeguarding our most sacred and basic freedoms and liberties, and it is especially important to commemorate this day at a time when the United States is engaged in an active military conflict; and

Whereas, In the Iraq war alone, nearly 3,000 United States troops have lost their lives, according to the United States Department of Defense; and

Whereas, The New York City Department of Education has the responsibility to ensure that New York City’s 1.1 million school children understand the sacrifices, both past and present, made by members of the military to make this Country the land of the free; and

Whereas, Commemorating Veterans Day will teach students to respect and honor members of their military for their sacrifice to this country; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to make Veterans Day a school holiday.

 

SS

LS #1980

10/20/06