‘The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month’

Armistice Day. The universal recognition to the celebrated end of the fighting of World War I was at exactly 11 o’clock in the morning on November 11, 1918. It marked the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I (WWI) and Germany at Compiègne, France, at 5:45a.m., that marked the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of WWI at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” A formal peace agreement was reached only when the Treaty of Versailles was signed the following year in 1919.

Many countries continue to observe Armistice Day, and the first Armistice Day celebration was held at Buckingham Palace, England, commencing with King George V on November 10, 1919. The Patriotic village of Lake Ronkonkoma dedicated their World War I Memorial on the Lake Ronkonkoma School grounds on Armistice Day, November 11, 1923.

Armistice day steadily held its place well, serving the WWI Veterans until President Dwight D. Eisenhower (R-KS) signed Public Law 380 into law, amending it to VETERANS DAY on June 1, 1954. Therefore, the holiday was expanded to include and honor ALL American Veterans, not just those from WWI. At that time President Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” which guaranteed a common purpose and established many ways for observance and national committees to assist our Veterans as needed.

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May: Veterans Day commemorates the service of all U.S. Veterans, while Memorial Day specifically honors those who have died (KIA) while in military service. Another military holiday that also occurs in May, Armed Forces Day, honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. Additionally, Women Veterans Day is recognized by a growing number of U.S. states that specifically honor women who have served in the U.S. military.

Every year Veterans Day comes and goes, but wait a minute! – this is Lake Ronkonkoma, and here, it is Veterans Day every day. Our Military Tribute Banners currently honoring over five hundred Veterans are living proof of not only their service and reality, but the service of our community as a whole. You can easily WALK- READ & THANK each and every veteran with a stroll through our town. There are still additional Veterans to be honored, so think of them as you visit with all others and reach out to us to honor those who are still missing. You will see them in May 2025.

You will benefit from learning the stories of those honored throughout our town, and our past and present community members that made the greatest sacrifice. They depict different wars, eras, battles and peace keeping eras such as: the Indian wars, Rough Riders, three Generals, fighter pilots; Hamburger Hill, the Battle of Saratoga, the Liberation of Dachau. ALL from Lake Ronkonkoma, and ultimately run into the same category– heroes.

A group of Veterans in town represent the American Legion William Merritt Hallock Post #155; AMVETS Post #48 and William Francis Taylor #9486 VFW, and you can find their banners right near their posts. Don’t be surprised when you find the banners of the original group founders not far from their doors.

We encourage you to ask questions. Our research is impeccable and is not beyond our means to gather true and historical information that has been carefully recorded by “the group that holds the highest esteem in our town.” One must start from the top to learn and appreciate our roots, with the Veterans at the top. Each Veteran has a unique and honored story to be heard.

You may just run into one of our local heroes while visiting the town. Maybe even their children, grandchildren, other family and friends. Their pictures are priceless. Lake Ronkonkoma does not forget their military.

The Purple Heart, a military decoration for those wounded or killed in action, was established in 1782 by George Washington, then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and on January 7, 1931, General Douglas MacArthur confidentially reopened work on a new design to re-establish the Award in 1932. Lake Ronkonkoma has a lot of Purple Hearts and should be a reminder to the community where the Veterans came from. In a symbiotic gesture the Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers, founded in 1941 under the direction of the NYS Cornell extension, had twenty-nine members who were basically stay at home homemakers. The current local women in town, handmade crochet purple hearts that will identify our Veterans on the poles. This is a great group of women with over 85 members, who share a common goal and mission of helping others – a very generous and active bunch participating in crafting, community service, council projects, charity work, and lots of friendship.

George Cristino, local author and resident of Lake Ronkonkoma, has been studying the Killed In Action (KIA) Veterans of our town. His interest in sharing the circumstances of each instance and complete story of those KIA has led to his advanced perseverance to document our fallen soldiers. Keep your eye out for his book, which in currently completing the publishing process.

Look to the future, as the Lake Ronkonkoma Veteran’s Park is underway. Contact us to volunteer or for more information. (thelakeheritage@aol.com or notify the Messenger Papers.)

After knowing many of our Veterans and meeting many more, I can assure you, you will never have the acquaintance of a better human being. They kept their ultimate pledge to support and defend the United States of America. We must keep our undying faith in them.