Veterans Day – Armistice Day … a little history
Posted By RichC on November 11, 2007
In doing an informal survey of about Veterans Day this past week, it was apparent that very few people realized that it was originally called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. (interesting the U.S. holiday is often written incorrectly with an apostrophe, but it is Veterans Day … without an apostrophe) We celebrate the U.S. State and Federal holiday on November 11th each year honoring all military veterans. The day is the anniversary of Germany signing of the Armistice that ended World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. President Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919. U.S. Congress then formally set November 11 as a legal ‘Federal’ holiday in 1921 to honor all those who participated in World War I along with establishing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. It wasn’t until 1938 did Congress pass legislation that made November 11th a legal Federal Holiday. In 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day which honored those who not only served in WWI, but WWII and Korea as well. Congress made a change to the date in 1968 which would celebrate Veterans Day as the fourth Monday in October beginning in 1971. Then in 1975 under public pressure, congress passed legislation to return the Federal observance of Veteran’s Day to November 11th beginning in 1978.
Thanks to all who are wearing and have wore the uniform of the U.S. Military for your service to our country.
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