Kindergarteners lead assembly for Loyalty Day

Loyalty Day, celebrated May 1, was observed at St. Mary Cathedral School when kindergarteners led the Pledge of Allegiance at their weekly assembly. They worked at memorizing it for weeks. Assistance from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 and Auxiliary was provided by distributing pamphlets defining Loyalty Day and a coloring contest judged by retired art teacher Joy Brown.

Winners included Hannah Wilson, first place; Kylie Bartlett, second place; and Robert Mirgeaux, third place.

Loyalty Day was designated by Congressional Act 85-529 of 1958.

The VFW fight for federal government recognition of Loyalty Day began in earnest with the adoption of a resolution at the Golden Jubilee VFW National Convention in Miami in 1949. A move to gain official endorsement of Loyalty Day was finally launched in Congress in 1954 with the introduction of a House Joint Resolution by Rep. James E. Van Zandt, Penn., three times commander in chief of the VFW.

In 1955, Congress approved it, simply designating May 1, 1955, as Loyalty Day. The VFW continued to push for a bill that would proclaim May 1 of each year as Loyalty Day. That bill was passed in 1958.