Veterans Day
The holiday now known as Veterans Day, celebrated annually on November 11th, stands as a profound testament to the American commitment to its armed forces. It is a day dedicated to honoring all living and deceased military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces during wartime or peacetime. The history of this national holiday is not static; it is a narrative of evolution, reflecting the nation’s changing relationship with its military, transforming from a celebration of peace at the end of “the war to end all wars” into a universal commemoration of service.
The journey from Armistice Day to Veterans Day is a chronicle of remembrance, legislative action, and enduring patriotism, rooted in a single, historically significant moment: the cessation of hostilities that ended World War I.
I. Armistice Day: The Birth of a Commemoration – Veterans Day
The foundation of Veterans Day lies in the signing of the armistice that brought an end to the brutal fighting of World War I.
The Eleventh Hour, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Month (1918)
The pivotal date is November 11, 1918. The armistice, a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” While the Treaty of Versailles, the official peace treaty, was signed seven months later on June 28, 1919, November 11th was universally accepted as the symbolic end of the Great War.
In the United States and Allied countries, the news sparked spontaneous, joyous celebrations. However, the initial jubilation quickly gave way to a solemn realization of the immense sacrifice. The war had cost the lives of over 116,000 Americans, and millions more worldwide. The impulse to remember, to honor the dead, and to celebrate the hard-won peace became immediate and widespread.
President Wilson’s Proclamation (1919) – Veterans Day
The first official commemoration took place one year later. On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day. His words set the initial tone for the observance:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”
Wilson’s vision for the day included parades, public meetings, and a brief two-minute suspension of all business activities starting at 11:00 a.m. The focus was dual: solemn pride in heroism and dedication to the cause of world peace.
The Tomb of the Unknowns (1921)
A crucial national tradition began in 1921, further cementing November 11th as a day of national reverence. On this date, an unknown American soldier from World War I was interred in the newly created Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
Similar ceremonies had already occurred in France (at the Arc de Triomphe) and the United Kingdom (at Westminster Abbey). The American ceremony, attended by President Warren G. Harding, became the focal point for the nation’s tribute to its war dead, forever linking the sacred site of the Tomb with the Armistice Day commemoration. Congress also declared November 11, 1921, a legal federal holiday for the purpose of honoring all those who participated in the war.
II. Formal Recognition and the Interwar Years (1926-1938)
The observance of Armistice Day continued to grow throughout the 1920s, a decade marked by an idealistic hope for an era of lasting global peace.
Congressional Resolution (1926) – Veterans Day
On June 4, 1926, the U.S. Congress formally recognized the end of World War I and passed a concurrent resolution. This resolution requested that the President of the United States issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11th with appropriate ceremonies. It further stated that the anniversary should be “commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
A Legal Federal Holiday (1938) – Veterans Day
Twelve years later, Armistice Day achieved its highest legislative status up to that point. A Congressional Act approved on May 13, 1938, officially made the 11th of November a legal Federal holiday. The act explicitly stated it was a day to be “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.”
At this point, the holiday was explicitly dedicated to honoring the veterans of World War I. The core tradition was established: a moment of silence at 11 a.m., parades, and public orations focused on the themes of peace and the sacrifice of “The Great War” generation.
III. Transformation: From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
The optimistic hope that WWI would be “the war to end all wars” was tragically dashed with the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and the subsequent Korean War (1950–1953). The United States soon had millions of new veterans from multiple conflicts, and the name “Armistice Day” no longer accurately reflected the nation’s veteran population.
The Call for a Broader Holiday (Post-WWII) – Veterans Day
The push to expand the holiday began with a World War II veteran, Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama. Weeks organized a “National Veterans Day” celebration in 1947, which included a parade and festivities intended to honor all veterans. Weeks continued to lead this celebration annually and is today widely recognized as the “Father of Veterans Day.”
He and other veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), began lobbying Congress to broaden the focus of the federal holiday.
The Official Renaming (1954)
The efforts came to fruition in 1954. The 83rd Congress, recognizing the need to honor veterans from both World War II and the Korean War, amended the Act of 1938. They officially struck out the word “Armistice” and inserted “Veterans.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a veteran and Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II, signed the legislation on June 1, 1954, making November 11th a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Later that year, on October 8, 1954, President Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation, encouraging citizens to join in the common purpose of appropriately and universally observing the anniversary.
IV. The Date Controversy and Restoration (1968-1978)
For over a decade, Veterans Day continued to be celebrated on its traditional, historically significant date of November 11th. However, a desire for administrative uniformity and economic stimulation led to a controversial change.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (1968)
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (Public Law 90-363). The intent of this legislation was to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by moving four national holidays—Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day—to be celebrated on a Monday.
Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October, with the change set to take effect in 1971.
Public Backlash and Reversion (1971-1978)
The first Veterans Day celebrated under the new law, on October 25, 1971, was met with significant confusion and widespread disapproval. It quickly became clear that the historical and patriotic significance of November 11th—the exact “eleventh hour”—was too deeply ingrained in the national memory to be casually changed for convenience.
Many states refused to comply and continued to celebrate the holiday on November 11th. Veterans service organizations, the military community, and the general public overwhelmingly advocated for a return to the original date.
Recognizing the strength of this popular sentiment and the historical importance of the date, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 on September 20, 1975, which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978. Veterans Day has been observed on November 11th ever since, regardless of the day of the week it falls upon.
V. Contemporary Celebrations and Traditions
Today’s observance of Veterans Day carries forward the traditions of Armistice Day while encompassing the scope of a broader, modern tribute.
The National Ceremony at Arlington
The focal point for the official, national ceremony remains the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Every Veterans Day, at 11:00 a.m. EST, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the Tomb. A presidential wreath is laid, and the bugler plays Taps, symbolizing the nation’s profound respect and gratitude for its war dead and, by extension, all veterans. The rest of the ceremony takes place in the Memorial Amphitheater, where various military and government officials give addresses.
Parades and Community Events
Across the United States, celebrations include parades, community ceremonies, and memorial services. These local events are a direct link to the original Armistice Day tradition of public meetings and celebratory marches. Many feature marching bands, active duty service members, and, most importantly, veterans of every generation.
Honoring the Living
A crucial distinction between Veterans Day and Memorial Day is their focus. Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) is dedicated to honoring those who died in military service. Veterans Day is a day to honor all American veterans—living and deceased—for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
This distinction shapes contemporary celebrations, which often include:
- Gratitude Initiatives: Businesses, schools, and communities offer gestures of thanks, such as discounts, free meals, and card-writing campaigns to express direct gratitude to living veterans.
- Educational Outreach: Schools and museums host events to educate the public, especially younger generations, about the history of the U.S. military and the sacrifices made by its service members.
- The Two-Minute Silence: While not a universal law, the traditional two-minute silence at 11:00 a.m., commemorating the moment the guns fell silent in 1918, is still observed in many communities as a mark of respect and solemn remembrance.
Conclusion
The history of Veterans Day is a rich and moving narrative, one that begins with a moment of hopeful peace on a battlefield in France and evolves to encompass the service of millions across a century of conflicts. From a day dedicated to the Great War’s “Doughboys” to a universal celebration of all American veterans, the holiday on November 11th remains one of the most significant dates on the national calendar. It stands not only as a day of remembrance for the past but as an active acknowledgment of the commitment and sacrifice of all those who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.