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Veterans’ Statistics, Veterans Day History, War Poetry, and More Also known as Remembrance Day around the world, this is an important date on the calendar. This day is set aside for commemorating those who have fought and lost their lives in pursuit of rights and freedom— from the First World War to the Persian Gulf conflict. Veterans Day is honored on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 a.m— November 11. This specific time was chosen to coincide with the last cessation of gunfire during the Great War on the same day in 1918, as the prelude to peace began between the warring nations and a cease-fire was ordered at 11 a.m. This Armistice lead to the Treaty of Versailles, signed in June of the next year, officially ending the war. And because Armistice comes from the Latin word sistere, which means “to come to a stop”, it was a fitting name for the holiday when it was in its infancy— first called Armistice Day in reference to the cease-fire of November 11, 1918. Today, the now Veterans Day or Remembrance Day celebrations include a minute of silence for those who fought in their country’s service, parades, presentations by veterans’ service organizations, and more. People also gather at memorial locations such as Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and more. You might even hear the President speak from the White House to commemorate the day and pass on a message from the federal government! But most importantly, we use this time to remember the service members who didn’t return home and honor the military veterans who did. And because this is not a day of mourning but of remembrance and thanksgiving, the American flag is not flown at half-staff. Read on to discover more information on this important holiday, including the first Veterans Day, the history of Veterans Day, and important persons— from President Woodrow Wilson and veterans of World War I, to national Veterans Day activities and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Iwo Jima Memorial, Washington, D.C. Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Armistice Day Becomes Veterans Day World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans. In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. Tomb of the Unknowns Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day center around the Tomb of the Unknowns. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of “Taps.” Unknown Soldier Identified On Memorial Day (which honors U.S. service people who died in action) in 1958, two more unidentified American war dead, one from World War II and the other from the Korean War, were buried next to the unknown soldier of World War I. A law was passed in 1973 providing the interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but because of the improved technology to identify the dead, it was not until 1984 that an unidentified soldier was buried in the tomb. In 1998, however, the Vietnam soldier was identified through DNA tests as Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old Air Force airman who was shot down in May of 1972 near the Cambodian border. His body was disinterred and reburied by his family in St. Louis, Missouri.  

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The History of War

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Overview Laws of War Strategies and Tactics of War Countries with Nuclear Weapons Capabilities Weapons that Changed Warfare War Crimes

The War Dead

Veterans

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America’s Wars—Military Conflicts in U.S. History

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Worldwide Conflicts and Wars

Highest Ranking Officers in American History The Joint Chiefs of Staff Active Military Personnel Active Duty Servicewomen by Branch of Service and Rank The Medal of Honor

Military Budgets of Selected Countries Significant Armed Conflicts Recently Suspended Armed Conflicts Principal Sources of Refugees

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Veterans’ Statistics, Veterans Day History, War Poetry, and More

Also known as Remembrance Day around the world, this is an important date on the calendar. This day is set aside for commemorating those who have fought and lost their lives in pursuit of rights and freedom— from the First World War to the Persian Gulf conflict.

Veterans Day is honored on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 a.m— November 11. This specific time was chosen to coincide with the last cessation of gunfire during the Great War on the same day in 1918, as the prelude to peace began between the warring nations and a cease-fire was ordered at 11 a.m. This Armistice lead to the Treaty of Versailles, signed in June of the next year, officially ending the war.

And because Armistice comes from the Latin word sistere, which means “to come to a stop”, it was a fitting name for the holiday when it was in its infancy— first called Armistice Day in reference to the cease-fire of November 11, 1918.

Today, the now Veterans Day or Remembrance Day celebrations include a minute of silence for those who fought in their country’s service, parades, presentations by veterans’ service organizations, and more. People also gather at memorial locations such as Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and more.

You might even hear the President speak from the White House to commemorate the day and pass on a message from the federal government!

But most importantly, we use this time to remember the service members who didn’t return home and honor the military veterans who did. And because this is not a day of mourning but of remembrance and thanksgiving, the American flag is not flown at half-staff.

Read on to discover more information on this important holiday, including the first Veterans Day, the history of Veterans Day, and important persons— from President Woodrow Wilson and veterans of World War I, to national Veterans Day activities and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Armistice Day Becomes Veterans Day

World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

Tomb of the Unknowns

Official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day center around the Tomb of the Unknowns.

To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.

At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb. The nation’s tribute to its war dead is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of “Taps.”

Unknown Soldier Identified

On Memorial Day (which honors U.S. service people who died in action) in 1958, two more unidentified American war dead, one from World War II and the other from the Korean War, were buried next to the unknown soldier of World War I.

A law was passed in 1973 providing the interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam War, but because of the improved technology to identify the dead, it was not until 1984 that an unidentified soldier was buried in the tomb.

In 1998, however, the Vietnam soldier was identified through DNA tests as Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old Air Force airman who was shot down in May of 1972 near the Cambodian border. His body was disinterred and reburied by his family in St. Louis, Missouri.

Special Features

The History of War

  • War Poems

  • American Veterans By the Numbers

  • Memorial Poems

  • Flag Etiquette

  • Overview

  • Laws of War

  • Strategies and Tactics of War

  • Countries with Nuclear Weapons Capabilities

  • Weapons that Changed Warfare

  • War Crimes

The War Dead

Veterans

  • Arlington National Cemetery

  • The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

  • U.S. Casualties in the Major Wars

  • Casualties in World War I

  • Casualties in World War II

  • Post-Vietnam Casualties

  • Number of Women Veterans in the United States

  • Memorial Day

  • The U.S. Veteran Population

  • Last Living Veterans of American Wars

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars

  • Last Civil War Widows

  • Veterans of U.S. Wars and Their Dependents

America’s Wars—Military Conflicts in U.S. History

The American Revolution

  • Overview
  • Timeline

War of 1812

Mexican War

  • Overview

Civil War

Spanish American War

World War I

  • Overview
  • Timeline
  • Casualties

World War II

  • Overview
  • Timeline
  • Casualties
  • Iwo Jima
  • World War II Movies
  • Pearl Harbor Remembered

Korean War

Vietnam War

The Persian Gulf War

  • Overview
  • Timeline
  • Gulf War Syndrome
  • Iraqi Crises since the Gulf War

Afghanistan War

  • Afghanistan
  • The Afghanistan War and Islamic Fundamentalism
  • The Taliban
  • Osama bin Laden
  • Al-Qaeda
  • Estimated War Costs, Afghanistan and Iraq

Iraq War

  • Iraq War Casualties
  • Iraq War Timeline (2003–present)
  • Fighting Words: An Iraq War Glossary
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom by the Numbers
  • Estimated War Costs, Afghanistan and Iraq
  • Overview (Iraq Profile)

The U.S. Military

Worldwide Conflicts and Wars

  • Highest Ranking Officers in American History

  • The Joint Chiefs of Staff

  • Active Military Personnel

  • Active Duty Servicewomen by Branch of Service and Rank

  • The Medal of Honor

  • Military Budgets of Selected Countries

  • Significant Armed Conflicts

  • Recently Suspended Armed Conflicts

  • Principal Sources of Refugees

.com/spot/veteransday1.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

Our Common Sources

Memorial Day

  • Memorial Day

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

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TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales