Veterans Month
November 2003
Veterans Day: a short history
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A few years earlier, similar ceremonies took place in England and France. These memorial gestures all took place on Nov. 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918. The date became known as Armistice Day.
Armistice Day officially received recognition in America in 1926 by Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later. A few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.
To pay tribute to those who had served in this latest, Great War, Armistice Day was given the name Veterans Day, as an occasion to honor those who had served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower proclaimed November 11 as Veterans Day.