Emporia, Kansas Shoe Salesman Founder of Veterans Day

Some people know that Emporia is the founding city of Veterans Day–an honor our town is rightly proud of. But fewer know the story of how that came to pass. It all started in 1953, when Emporian Alvin J. King proposed a name change. Armistice Day had been celebrated since 1921 on November 11–the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month–commemorating the end of World War I in 1918, the war to end all wars. Read on for the rest of the story, but first look over Emporia’s offerings for this year’s All Veterans Tribute Week.

The festivities begin on Nov. 1 with the Annual Veterans Exhibit Artists’ Reception. Honoring those who served our country to protect our freedom, this popular event features art created by local and regional veterans. The juried show awards first, second, and third place honors, as well as the People’s Choice award, announced at the reception. The exhibit will remain on display until Nov. 16 at the Emporia Arts Center, 815 Commercial St.  

Freedom Fest, now in its 21st year, honors all veterans and their families through a series of competitive, physical, and community gathering events on Nov. 9. These include a run/walk, cycling rides, a disc golf tournament, a foot march, and the warrior spur triple challenge. Events start and end at the All Veterans Memorial, 931 S. Commercial St., including the Freedom Fest Expo featuring military vehicle displays and information tables, veteran support organization booths, and the Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill Food Station.

The Norwegian Foot March also called a ruck, begins at 8:00 a.m. In the military, there are coveted foreign badges that soldiers can earn, bringing both honor and bragging rights. First held in 1915 as a marching endurance test for Norwegian soldiers, the ruck quickly evolved into a strategy to swiftly move soldiers over great distances. Service members and civilians alike are invited  to participate in the Kansas Norwegian Foot March and earn the coveted badge.

At 8:45 a.m., the first of several bike rides take off,  the 5K run/walk and Warrior Spur Challenge depart at 9:20 a.m., and the Dynamic Discs Freedom Fest Open begins at noon at Sodens Grove Park, 1000 S. Commercial St. Events conclude with an Emporia Armory Soldier Reunion that evening. The Veterans Day Potato Feed is held at Las Casitas Park, 2 S. Arundel St., 1:00-4:00 p.m., also on Nov. 9.

King’s idea, which came about after World War II ended, was to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, thus honoring all veterans of all wars and conflicts. Kansas Congressman Ed Rees–himself an Emporian–took King’s proposal to Washington, D.C., and in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower–also a Kansan–signed the bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. The first national observance of the new holiday was celebrated in 1954.

Food and festivities abound on Veterans Day, Nov. 11! A Veterans Breakfast will be offered at Presbyterian Manor, 2300 Industrial Rd., 7:00-9:30 a.m., followed by the Veterans Day Parade through downtown Emporia on Commercial St. at 9:30 a.m. The Veterans Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the All Veterans Memorial. The American Legion Post 5 Ham & Bean Feed opens at noon at 2921 W. 12th Ave., as does the VFW Post 1980 Lunch at 932 Graphic Arts Rd.

Don’t miss the Quilts of Gratitude Quilt Exhibit at Emporia Public Library, 110 E. Sixth Ave., through November 7th.

Emporia shoe salesman Alvin King raised his nephew, John Cooper, who was killed in action serving with Rifle Company B of the 137th Infantry Regiment in 1944. Emporians supported King and his wife in their time of grief, and raised money to send the couple to Washington, D.C. You can see the plaque honoring King at the All Veterans Memorial. Alvin J. King died in 1960, and is buried in Emporia’s Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Congress passed a resolution in 2003 recognizing King, Rep. Rees, and the city of Emporia for their contributions to history:

“Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress hereby— (1) encourages Americans to demonstrate their support for veterans on Veterans Day by treating that day as a special day of remembrance; (2) declares Emporia, Kansas, to be the founding city of Veterans Day; (3) recognizes Alvin J. King, of Emporia, Kansas, as the founder of Veterans Day; and (4) recognizes that Representative Ed Rees, of Emporia, Kansas, was instrumental in the efforts to enact into law the observance of Veterans Day.”

See the All Veterans Tribute Schedule of Events.

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