A History of Veterans Day in Essex-Middle River

The 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month.

It is remembered as the time when, in 1918, Germany signed the Armistice that ended the major hostilities of World War I. The following year President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 11, 1919 as Armistice Day.

His proclamation contained the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

On May 13, 1938, Congress passed legislation officially designating Nov. 11 of each year as a federal holiday, calling it "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day,' " with appropriate services and ceremonies to be conducted.

In 1953, a Kansas man by the name of Alvin King, who was very active in an organization called American War Dads during World War II, began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into an All Veterans Day. King garnered the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education, which agreed with the idea of closing their doors one day each year to honor veterans.

Kansas Congressman Ed Rees introduced legislation and pushed it through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law in 1954 and thus Veterans Day was born.

The Essex-Middle River community has always been supportive of the military services and our veterans. At the beginning of WW II, hundreds of area residents joined the military to protect the freedoms we enjoy, while others supported the war efforts by producing the weapons needed at plants, such as Glenn L. Martin. This tradition has continued through Korea, Vietnam and today’s "War on Terrorism."

As conflicts have ended, we have joined to create monuments to those who have paid the “supreme sacrifice” in service to their country. Shortly after WW II ended, our community erected a monument in the 500 block of Eastern Ave. to honor those area residents who gave their lives to end the aggression of Nazi Germany and the imperial Japanese forces.

Sometime in the late 1970s, we established a monument next to the to honor those veterans who were killed in Korea and Vietnam.

Finally, a chance conversation between a WW II veteran and his barber led to the creation of a unique monument in Middle River to honor all eastern Baltimore County residents who were killed in action during WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the mid 1980s, WW II veteran was getting a haircut when his barber “Bud” Elste told him the story of William Lamky, who was killed in action in France in the winter of 1944.

Lamky’s family had requested that William’s name be added to the monument on Eastern Avenue,  but they were told that since Lamky did not live in Essex proper, his name would not be added.

This concerned Clasing greatly and led to a long struggle, which culminated in 1989 with the dedication of the .

Fundraisers were held, local businesses donated equipment and services, labor was provided free of charge, and the Holly Hills Memorial Gardens donated land as a home to the monument.

The result was a beautiful five-slab marble and granite memorial named after Lamky, John Luther and John Whitehead (two other WW II veterans killed in action and excluded from the Essex monument). Any veteran who was documented as killed in action will have his name added to the monument free of charge.

What makes this monument unique is that it is located at the bottom of “Valor Hill” in the cemetery where the remains of veterans are interred, and surrounding the main memorial stands a ring of marble slabs where any veteran who was honorably discharged can have his name engraved for a nominal fee.

Clasing knows of no other monument like it in the country.

Two very special events will take place at the monument this upcoming Veterans Day Week that are open to the public. Today, the fifth annual illumination service will be held.

Local Boy Scouts will place more than 600 red, white and blue luminaries  around the monument and on the gravesites of fallen veterans. It is a spectacular sight to see. Guests can begin arriving around 4:30 p.m.

Traditional Veterans Day services will take place at the monument at 11 a.m. on Friday. I encourage everyone to attend both events.