Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Alvin J. King

The Father of All Veterans Day

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 2, 2011

1. Alvin J. King Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Emporian Al King recognized the need for one holiday in memory of all veterans who served in all wars and he took action. He presented his idea to Kansas Congressman Ed Rees who sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives and then developed support for it through President Dwight D. Eisenhower. That bill was enacted into law whereupon Al King and his devoted wife Gertrude were guests of the White House for the Signing Ceremony on June 1, 1954.

A Grateful Nation honors the memory of Alvin J. King.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Events • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1946.

Location. 38° 23.188′ N, 96° 10.866′ W. Marker is in Emporia, Kansas, in Lyon County. Marker is along the All Veterans Park Walk of Honor. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 933 South Commercial Street (Kansas Route 99), Emporia KS 66801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lebanon, Grenada, and Panama Veterans Memorial (here,

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next to this marker); Emporia High School World War II Memorial (here, next to this marker); Gold Star Mothers of America War Memorial (here, next to this marker); Emporia's Mexican American Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Colonel Edwin H. Hawes (here, next to this marker); PFC Floyd Everett Campbell (here, next to this marker); Lt. William I. Loomis (here, next to this marker); Korean War Memorial (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Emporia.

Also see . . . Alvin King - Founder of Veterans Day. Visit Emporia website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Alvin J. King image. Click for full size.

via Visit Emporia, 1954

2. Alvin J. King

All Veterans Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

3. All Veterans Memorial Park

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,026 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on January 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on November 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.