Veterans Day

Official Name
Veterans Day
(formerly Armistice Day)

Observed
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
(always November 11)

Free MP3 Download
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
recorded by Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band
(featuring Jack Stamates - cello; Chris DeAngelis - bass, backing vocal)

Lyrics and information about When Johnny Comes Marching Home are further down this page.

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About Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a day to honor American veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. It came into existence in its present form on June 1, 1954, with the renaming of Armistice Day. The first commemoration of Armistice Day occurred on November 11, 1919, exactly one year after an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, went into effect between the Allied nations and Germany, signaling the end of World War I.

A resolution passed by the United States Congress on June 4, 1926 stated:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations

On October 8, 1954, the year Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation,” stating

On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

Visit the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website for more Veterans Day history, information on ceremonies, posters, teacher guides, and more.

Music of Veterans Day
From the American Revolution forward, there have been countless songs written and sung during and about every war in United States history: marching songs, patriotic hymns, sentimental ballads, propaganda songs, comic songs, boasting songs, and songs about fighting and battles. Those left behind have sung songs about their loved ones marching off to war and, hopefully, returning home again. From the mid-20th century, deeply personal songs have expressed the post-war turmoil faced by veterans and other survivors of war.

About When Johnny Comes Marching Home
This musical hope for peace originated during the Civil War and has demonstrated lasting appeal, growing in popularity over the years. Soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict sang it, identifying with the feeling of joy that was anticipated with the end of the fighting and the return of loved ones to their homes.

The first printed sheet music for the song credits the words and music to Louis Lambert, which was determined later to be a pen name for Patrick S. Gilmore. Gilmore was born in Ireland and came to America in the 1840s along with many others, fleeing the famine of those years. He was a gifted musician, becoming Bandmaster for the United States Army during the Civil War and, in post-war years, the organizer of Monster Peace-Jublilees featuring orchestras of a thousand musicians and choruses of 10,000 voices.

Gilmore claimed to have learned the tune for When Johnny Comes Marching Home from an unidentified African American singer and that it was a traditional African American melody. The Irish-sounding melody and Gilmore's background lead many to discredit this claim, but no definitive evidence of the tune's origin has been discovered. It is possible that he adapted the melody from a traditional Irish folk song.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah, hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout
The ladies, they will all turn out
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home

The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah, hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy
Hurrah, hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home

Get ready for the jubilee
Hurrah, hurrah!
We’ll give the hero three times three
Hurrah, hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home

Let love and friendship on that day
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest treasures then display
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warrior’s heart
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home