On May 1, 2003, Terrence Mykins, a 1963 graduate of Christian Brothers College High School, died from complications of Amyloidosis after a distinguished and honored career in the life insurance business in the Kansas City area.
While his community, his family, and his friends can be very proud of his many career accomplishments and recognitions, we need to delve deeper into his background, particularly his military service, to fully know and understand his true service and contributions to the CBC Community and to America.
Terry served two years as an officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era. He was discharged in 1971 with the rank of First Lieutenant. During his service in Vietnam, he earned numerous decorations including three Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Service Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal with five Battle stars, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, two Bronze Stars for Valor, a Silver Star, and the Presidential and Meritorious Unit Citations.
Thus, Terrence Mykins is one of the many unsung heroes who we should celebrate on Veterans Day. It is his story and the similar stories of millions of other American service men and women that makes November 11 such an important holiday in this country.
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918, a temporary cessation or armistice was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany, ending the hostilities of World War I. While the Treaty of Versailles was not signed until June 28, 1919, officially marking the end of the Great War, November 11, 1918, remained in the minds of the world’s populace as the date that marked the end of the war.
In November, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day and called for a day of observation to include parades and public gatherings as well as a brief pause in school and business activities at 11 a.m. On June 4, 1926, Congress resolved that a “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.” Congress also proclaimed that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. A later act passed on May 13, 1938, made November 11 a legal Federal holiday “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’”
In 1954, the 83rd Congress, compelled by the lobbying efforts of veterans’ service organizations, amended the 1938 Armistice Day Act, changing “Armistice” to “Veterans” and making it a day to honor all American veterans of all wars. This new act was signed into law by President Eisenhower. Then in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October beginning in 1971. However, once again, veterans spoke and made their voices heard, moving quickly to protest the date switch because of the historical and patriotic significance that November 11 had to many Americans. And in 1974, President Ford signed a new law restoring the observance of Veterans Day to November 11.
Every year Veterans Day is observed with an official wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (memorialized in 1921) in Arlington National Cemetery and by parades and other celebrations around the country. In our celebrations of this important day, we need to remember Terrence Mykins and all the other millions of veterans who have sacrificed and served this country to preserve and maintain our freedoms. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans – living or deceased – especially giving thanks to those living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
- Hal Morrow '63