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" also known as "May Day".

The First Red Scare

 In the wake of World War I. The Russian Revolution of 1917 saw the Bolsheviks, topple the Romanov dynasty, kicking off the rise of the communist party and inspiring international fear of Bolsheviks and anarchists. Even in America labor union and workers strikes were common place often accompanied by violence of all sorts. As May 1, 1920 approached there was fear of a coordianted world wide communist uprising to include a plot to overthrow the United States Government.

From the VFW National website

"Loyalty Day originally began as "Americanization Day" in 1921 as a counter to the Communists' May 1 celebration of the Russian Revolution. On May 1, 1930, 10,000 VFW members staged a rally at New York's Union Square to promote patriotism."

The Second Red Scare (Thanks again Wikipedia)

Occurring immediately after World War II, was preoccupied with the perception that national or foreign communists were infiltrating or subverting U.S. society and the federal government. The name refers to the red flag as a common symbol of communism.

Continued from VFW National website

 "Through a resolution adopted in 1949, May 1 evolved into Loyalty Day. Observances began in 1950 on April 28 and climaxed May 1 when more than five million people across the nation held rallies. In New York City, more than 100,000 people rallied for America. In 1958 Congress enacted Public Law 529 proclaiming Loyalty Day a permanent fixture on the nation's calendar."

President Ronald Reagan Proclamation 5645 -- Loyalty Day, 1987

"Let us make our observance of Loyalty Day one of reflection on all the profound good that our experiment in individual liberty and limited government has meant for the United States of America and for the hope of the world. Let us rekindle in every heart the unshakeable strength and purpose that was our forefathers'. Let us ask the Author of Liberty, as did they, to bless and protect the United States. In these ways we will, in loyalty, fulfill our sacred trust to "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.''

From a speech by R W Appleton

"In this country each of us understands that if we want to enjoy those rights guaranteed by our Constitution, we must defend the right of the other person to do the same. Each time we have been called to defend our nation, we Americans of all colors, from all backgrounds, have fought with and for each other. We Americans from every region, race and religion on the earth have formed a single, strong, unified, powerful nation. If all nations would follow our example, there would be no wars; no need for sad remembrances of our honored dead; no grieving loved ones at home."

   

Bill Schaeffler

VFW AZ State JA

VFW AZ POW-MIA/ Loyalty Day Chair