VIDEO FLASHBACK: Sgt. Irving Berlin With A Song For Veterans Day

In 1919, when the United States first observed November 11 as the annual Armistice Day, commemorating the anniversary of the end of what would eventually be known as World War I, thirty-one year old Irving Berlin was a sergeant in the United States Army, serving at Camp Upton in Yaphank, Long Island.

The Russian immigrant was drafted very shortly after becoming a naturalized citizen, in the midst of a songwriting career that so far had included contributions to 24 Broadway musicals and revues.

Accustomed to New York's nightlife and in working into the late hours, Sgt. Berlin had trouble adjusting to early morning reveille, a problem that inspired him to write the whimsical protest march, "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning."

Berlin introduced the song himself in the Broadway military revue YIP, YIP, YAPHANK, which began as a fundraiser for the camp.

He repeated his star turn in the 1942 Broadway revue, THIS IS THE ARMY.

When THIS IS THE ARMY was filmed for Hollywood, there was only one man they could possibly cast to sing the number on the big screen.

Armistice Day was renamed as Veterans Day in 1954. Thank you to all the military veterans visiting BroadwayWorld today. Sleep late tomorrow.