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The Tennessee Brochure & Tuesday's Tennessee Quiz

Remember the front flaps of the brochure should be the history and geography of that division. The back flaps should be a bullet list of crops, products, famous places or people.

The quiz will be based on the study guide in Evernote; and, "no" you do not have to know the exact counties.

Madison Rising - "The Star Spangled Banner" Goal

Madison Rising (Photo Credit: FILE)

Madison Rising, an up and coming rock band, has a goal to reach: they are trying to get 5 million hits on their new rock version of our national anthem. They hope to reach that goal by Independence Day (4th of July) in 2013. Since the band launched this goal, they have been hearing from educators and parents across the country who have embraced a new way to touch young hearts by the words of our anthem. Listen to the song and see if you don't like this version. It always gives me chills!!

What is Veterans Day?

History of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. 

 This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with 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…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts 

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp


Watch This Year's National Salute to the Veterans:

NOVEMBER 11, 2012

NATIONAL SALUTE TO VETERANS
8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS

Our New Experiments

Yes, these are the logos of our latest experiments in technological advances that will enhance our academic experience, and give you more tools to enhance your study experience. I am very excited about the results, thus far.

We have made our own flashcards on Study Blue, I have made flashcards and quizzes on Quizlet that you can access, and the latest is my ability to share study guides through cell phone, tablet device or pc. I think it's truly making learning more accessible for everyone. And for those of us who don't have a device to use, the beauty is we can still do it the old fashioned way and provide paper notes more easily.

With this new ability to access everything through your iphone or smartphone, there is very little reason you can't be completely prepared at all times - after all, you have your cell phone with you at all times!

Do not forget that I sent an invitation to each student who provided me with an email address to share my Tennessee Notebook in Evernote that is your study guide for the test on Tuesday. You can access it through your cell, ipad, kindle fire, any other tablet or your pc. If you told me on Thursday that you had none of the above, I printed hard copies of the notes for you, so there is no worry there. However, don't forget that you have to sign up for a free Evernote account before you can access the material.

Please do not forget that you need to come on Tuesday with the research completed, typed and pasted into your Tennessee brochure. This product counts as an assessment, so it is most important that you take this assignment seriously.

For those of you who did not complete your Study Island assignments last week, we will have to see what we can do for you when we return to school on Tuesday.

Have a great day off on Monday and I'll see you on Tuesday morning - bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!