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Loyalty Day is observed on May 1 in the United States. It is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United
States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom. The holiday was first celebrated in the 1930s as
Americanization Day, and was intended to serve as a counterweight to May Day, which was celebrated as a Communist holiday.
Loyalty Day is celebrated with parades and ceremonies in communities across the United States, although many people in the
United States remain unaware of it. Although a legal holiday, it is not a federal holiday. Loyalty Day was made an official
holiday by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 1, 1958, under pressure from United States Senator Karl Mundt and
Representative James E. Van Zandt. |
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The Maypole celebration apart, the May Day is also important to all average Americans for yet another reason. The
Loyalty Day. Americans today celebrate May Day as a Loyalty Day. The day of parades of veterans, drum and bugle corps, Boy
Scouts, visits to national shrines and doing things in the honor of the patriots. Schools, churches, fraternal societies and
different organizations come alive tosponsor these events. The motto is to instill the zeal to 'remain loyal to America'.
Specially among the children and the youth. Indeed, it is a day, meant for making all of you in America feel proud of your
country. The county to which you belong. However, its origin is not rooted long ago. Though the exact beginning of the date
of observance is not known, the concept stemmed in the early 1930s. The bid to celebrate May Day as Loyalty Day came in
rather as a counteractive bid. A bid to counteract the May Day Communist exhibitions in the United States. Members of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars thought that a challenge must be given to what they considered as the 'disruptive forces of the
communism'. And they wanted that the loyalty of Americans to the American ideals must be asserted to prevent the growth of
communism in America. So, in the early 1930s they began urging the institution of war veterans with organized parades and
ceremonies. Other patriotic organizations joined in. And with the help of speaker's bureaus and an extensive letter-writing
campaign, celebrations on the theme of loyalty to America took hold. This was aided by patriotic plays, oratory contests on
national issues and tours to national shrines. These were sponsored by schools, churches, labor unions, fraternal societies
and other groups. |
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While the concept came into being quite early in the '30s giving rise to various functions, it took until 1949 to proclaim
the observance of Loyalty Day. And this was when forty nine states and territorial governors joined in. Thanks to the efforts
of Senator Karl Mundt of North Dakota and Representative James E. Van Zandt of Pennsylvania. In May 1, 1958, President Dwight
D. Eisenhower made it a day of national observance. In 1932, some patriotic organizations were encouraged by the Loyalty Day
concept and wanted to do something more to inspire loyalty to the nation. So, the concept of Americanism Day came into being
to be celebrated on the same day of the Loyalty Day. The first Americanism parade was held in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in
1932. The day has since merged with Loyalty Day. |
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Legal definition of the Loyalty Day :
Loyalty Day is defined as follows in USC Title 36.I.A.1 §115 :-
* (a) Designation.— May 1 is Loyalty Day.
* (b) Purpose.— Loyalty Day is a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the
recognition of the heritage of American freedom.
* (c) Proclamation.— The President is requested to issue a proclamation—
o (1) calling on United States Government officials to display the flag of the United States on all
Government buildings on Loyalty Day; and
o (2) inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in
schools and other suitable places. |
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