VFW recognizes Loyalty Day

• VFW recognizes Loyalty Day

Members of VFW Post 8904, Axillary, and friends gathered Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the Veteran’s Day Memorial on the 1885 Historic Shelby County Courthouse to recognize Loyalty Day.

Post Quartermaster Larry Hume extended a welcome and Post Life Member Mary Roberts lead a prayer affirming “that we hold our citizenship as a sacred trust between one another and You. For your glory, we ask that those who lead us in the courts of government might be blessed with wisdom, humility, and courage to do on our behalf what is right in your eyes.”

“Good morning,” Hume followed. “Some of the holidays we celebrate honor great Americans, while others recognize great moments in our history. Loyalty Day celebrates everything, from the moment we delivered our declaration of independence to the British, to the moment we gathered here this morning.

“Loyalty Day is a celebration of America and everything our country stands for,” said Hume. Loyalty Day asks us to pause for a moment and look back at where we’ve been and ahead to where we want our nation to go.”

“Originally observed as ‘Americanization Day’ in 1921 and enacted into public law by Congress in 1958,” Hume continued, “Loyalty Day celebrates the legacy of freedom and the shared ideals that bind our great nation together. While initially established to counterbalance the May 1 celebrations of the communist party in the United States, this day has endured as a permanent fixture on America’s calendar.

“Even as the communist threat has greatly diminished over the years but perhaps is being revitalized, loyalty day remains a day worth recognizing, and we can’t think of a group we would rather spend loyalty day with than you who are here today,” said Hume.

“Today, we must remind others and ourselves that there is no substitute for loyalty, and we must pledge to maintain a free society in which loyalty is respected and encouraged.

“Loyalty Day is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedoms.”

Hume led the group in reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance after which Post Sr. Vice Mike Wulf placed the Loyalty Day wreath.

Center Mayor Pro-Tem Leigh Porterfield closed the program with the singing of “God Bless America.”

“Today is not an official holiday, said Hume, but rather an observance that many are unaware of and would have gone unnoticed in Shelby County if it were not for you gathered here today.”

Hume closed with “Again, thank you for being here this morning. I ask you to go out and share this day with someone who is unaware.”