Loyalty Day

For the Argentinian observance, see Loyalty Day (Argentina).

Loyalty Day is observed on May 1 in the United States. It is a day set aside "for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom". The date, May 1, was set in order to counter International Worker's Day, and was conceived in the height of the Second Red Scare.

Loyalty Day
Observed by	United States
Celebrations	Special day "for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom"^[1]
Date	May 1
Frequency	annual

History

The holiday was first observed in 1921, during the First Red Scare.^[2] It was originally called "Americanization Day,"^[3] and it was intended to replace the May 1 ("May Day") celebration of the International Workers' Day,^[4] which commemorates the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago.^[5]

During the Second Red Scare, it was recognized by the U.S. Congress on April 27, 1955,^[6] and made an official reoccurring holiday on July 18, 1958 (Public Law 85-529).^[1][7] President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1955, the first observance of Loyalty Day.^[8] In 1958, Eisenhower urged Congress to move Child Health Day to the First Monday in October, to avoid conflicting with Loyalty Day.^[7][9] Loyalty Day has been recognized with an official proclamation every year by every president since its inception as a legal holiday in 1958.^[10][11]

Loyalty Day events, mostly parades, are still held in:

• Golden Shores, Arizona^[12]
• Calhan, Colorado^[13]
• New Lenox, Illinois^[14]
• Brazil, Indiana^[15]
• Murray, Kentucky (not annually)^[16]
• Standish, Michigan^[17]
• Norfolk, Nebraska^[18]
• Newport, Oregon^[19]
• Brandon, South Dakota^[20]
• El Paso, Texas^[21]
• Rutland, Vermont^[22]
• Long Beach, Washington^[23]
• Freedom, Wisconsin^[24]

Statutory definition

Loyalty Day is defined as follows in 36 U.S.C. § 115:

(a) Designation.— May 1 is Loyalty Day.

(b) Purpose.— Loyalty Day is a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.

(c) Proclamation.— The President is requested to issue a proclamation—

(1) calling on United States Government officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Loyalty Day; and

(2) inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places.

See also

• Holidays of the United States
• Labour Day
• Law Day (United States)

References

1. "36 U.S. Code § 115 – Loyalty Day". Legal Information Institute. New York: Cornell University Law School. August 12, 1998. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
2. Conn, Matt (March 24, 2004). "Loyalty Day celebration set for return to Medford". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin: Gannett. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012.^{[dead link]}
3. "Patriotic Days". VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
4. "Not to be a downer, but here's a reality check on 'Loyalty Day'". Los Angeles Times (Editorial). 29 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
5. "A short history of May Day". Libcom.org. September 11, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
6. "84th Congress, 1st Session" (PDF). United States Statutes at Large. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 69: 44. 1955.
7. Eisenhower, Dwight D. (July 18, 1958). Gerhard Peters; John T. Woolley (eds.). . The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
8. Eisenhower, Dwight D. (April 28, 1955). Gerhard Peters; John T. Woolley (eds.). "Proclamation 3091 – Loyalty Day, 1955". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
9. Eisenhower, Dwight D. (April 18, 1959). "Presidential Proclamation 3282 declaring May 1, 1959 Loyalty Day". OPA – Online Public Access. National Archives. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
10. "Search Results: Loyalty Day". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
11. Office of the Federal Register (1967). The Code of Federal regulations of the United States of America. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 42-43.
12. "Golden Shores, AZ: Come to the 34th Annual Loyalty Day Parade and Event today". Zach News. April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
13. "Loyalty Day Parade May 2, 2020". Department of Colorado VFW. February 6, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
14. "42nd Annual 18th District Loyalty Day Parade has been canceled". Patch. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
15. Report, Times Staff (2022-04-25). "LOYALTY DAY IS THIS WEEKEND". Brazil Times. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
16. Wright, John (April 24, 2018). "VFW hosts Loyalty Day Parade Saturday". Murray Ledger. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
17. Drew, Trevor (April 27, 2019). "Loyalty Day Parade returns for 48th year". Arenac County Independent. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
18. "Norfolk Loyalty Day Parade". Sandhills Express. May 1, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
19. "loyalty-day-happening". Newport News Times. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
20. Hult, Jamie (April 21, 2020). "Loyalty Day Parade on hold – for now". Brandon Valley Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
21. Long, Trish (April 25, 2019). "El Paso answers Russia's May Day with Loyalty Day for the first time in 1964". El Paso Times. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
22. Dritschilo, Gordon (April 7, 2020). "Loyalty Day Parade canceled". Rutland Herald. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
23. Heffernan, Marissa (January 14, 2020). "Long Beach Loyalty Days will continue on under direction of Elks Lodge". The Daily News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
24. "Loyalty Day Parade – Freedom, WI". Winnebago County. Retrieved April 28, 2020.

External links

• Image of "Steps to Better Manhood" truck in the Loyalty Day parade, Los Angeles, 1926, Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.