Here’s to the veterans
Veterans Day is a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. This particular day commemorates the armistice, or temporary ceasing of conflict, of World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 between the Allied nations and Germany.
Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day in 1919, November 11 became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day. On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the “recurring anniversary of [November 11, 1918] should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
In 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act that had made Armistice Day a holiday, striking the word “Armistice” in favor of “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954. From then on, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars in which the United States fought. Though in 1971, Congress moved this holiday to the fourth Monday of October. To provide permanence, President Gerald Ford signed a new law returning the observation of Veterans Day to November 11 beginning in 1978.
As with some holidays, Labor Day rests on a very particular date. For many years, Americans argued about what day of the year should we celebrate Veterans Day. Because of the uproar between 1971 and 1978, the date was finally set as the anniversary of the armistice of WWI—November 11. That whole process attunes our attention to the importance of a particular event in the life of an organization, or a phrase, a date, a mission statement, or a symbol. People rally around a collective moment together. These precious experiences inspire a team.
We often find that successful organizations highlight and refer regularly to a mission statement—what they seek to achieve as a collective group. Consider the power of key phrases. They inspire and invigorate: “Remember the Alamo,” “All for one and one for all,” “Semper fi,” and “Yes we can” are just a few. Can you think of company slogans, organizational mottos, memorable sayings among friends, or rally cries of sports teams. In war, armies used to loudly chant the same phrase at their opposition to prepare them to fight side-by-side. Collective goals and key phrases are powerful. Are you using them successfully in your organization?
Years ago, there was a rally cry among Americans to use the term “Veterans” instead of “Armistice.” A collective purpose inspired perseverance, which enacted a national holiday name change. Have you helped circle your team’s purpose around a common goal. Maybe it is the organization’s mission statement. Perhaps you need to create one. Once agreed upon, make sure everyone can participate in and contribute to achieving this mission. Help them connect their work with that mission, demonstrating that each person contributes to the collective goal. Everybody matters. All work is valuable for the organization. The same mission impels everyone to walk in the same direction, though their work is diverse.
Veterans day reminds us not only of the sacrifice of millions of military service men and women who served their country to preserve freedom across our national history. It also reminds us of the power of collective experiences and goals. The United States rallies around one common word on one day every year – “Veterans.” Likewise, be intentional to rally your team around that which is of greatest value to your organization.
What is your organization’s rally cry, and does it drive them collectively forward?