Veteran’s Day is the day that a grateful nation honors and thanks its Veterans for their sacrifice in the service of our nation, the United States of America.

World War I, known as “The Great War” or “The war to end all wars”- officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. The fighting actually stopped seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Because of this, November 11, 1918, is celebrated as the end of World War I.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first observation of Armistice Day with the following words: “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…”

The incarnation for a celebration was for a day that was observed with parades and public celebration and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m., keeping with the theme 11/11/11.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a resolution on June 4, 1926, with the declaration that “the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals…”

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday, a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars and on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation”.

The Uniforms Holiday Bill was signed on June 28, 1968, moving Veterans Day to October 25, beginning in 1971, to make it a three day holiday.

Regardless of what day of the week that it falls on, Veterans Day continues to be celebrated on November 11. The changing of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but keeps the focus of attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day. It is a day of celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of their fellow Americans.

Read several poems reflecting on veterans day, published in our print edition.