Hall of Fame Banquet The Hall of Fame Banquet is held on the third Friday in August each year. It was established in 1990 to recognize and honor Veterans of the Texas Panhandle, those who lived here, or were stationed here, for significant contributions in the field of military service. The banquet brings together family and friends, associates and strangers, to share in a caring experience with those who have participated in America's war efforts, and to share in their emotions and experiences of war. The hope for future generations of mankind were in their hands for a time. Observance of Significant Military Anniversary Dates Memorial Day Veterans Day Fourth of July D. Day V.E. Day V.J. Day Memorial Day Events leading to World War II January 30, 1933: Hitler comes to power. Spring 1935: Japan expands from Manchuko. October 3, 1935: Italy declares war on Ethiopia. March 7, 1936: Germany reoccupies the Rhineland. July 18, 1936: Outbreak of the Spanish Revolution. July 7, 1937: Japan invades China. March 12, 1938: Germany occupies Austria. October 1938: Germany partitions Czechoslovakia. April 7, 1939: Italy takes Albania. August 23, 1939: Signing of the German-Soviet Pact. September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland, France and England declare war. November 30, 1939: Russia invades Finland. April 9 1940: Germany invades Denmark and Norway. May 10, 1940: Germany invades Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Churchill appointed. May 29, 1940: Evacuation of Dunkirk. June 10, 1940: Italy enters the war. June 22, 1940: Armistice between Germany and France. September 16, 1940: President Roosevelt approves Selective Training and Service Act. October 28, 1940: Italy invades Greece. March 11, 1941: President Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act. April 6, 1941: Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece. April 27, 1941: Campaign in Greece ends with fall of Athens. May 19, 1941: Italian forces in Ethiopia surrender to British. June 22, 1941: Germany invades Russia. August 14, 1941: Signing of the Atlantic Charter. December 7, 1941: Japan strikes at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Wake and Guam, and declares war. December 8, 1941: United States declares war on Japan. December 11, 1941: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. December 11, 1941: United States declares war on Germany and Italy. © 1998-2000, Freedom Museum USA. All Rights Reserved. A Tri-Talents Production.