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History of Veterans Day Timeline

(1918 - Present)

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11 to honor military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It originated as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I hostilities at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and was officially renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Less

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Origins and Armistice

Armistice with Germany ends World War I hostilities

Nov 11, 1918

Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. This moment became the symbolic foundation for the future holiday honoring veterans.

Image source: Veterans Day

Armistice with Germany ends World War I hostilities

Congress resolution requests annual November 11 proclamations

Jun 4, 1926

The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies.

November 11 becomes legal holiday known as Armistice Day

May 13, 1938

An act of Congress (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S.C. § 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made November 11 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'.

Renaming and Honors

Raymond Weeks proposes holiday for all war veterans

Jan 1, 1945

In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea of a national holiday that would honor all war veterans, living and dead, to be celebrated on Armistice Day.

First national celebration led by Weeks in Alabama

Nov 11, 1947

Weeks led the first national celebration in 1947 in Alabama, an event he would continue to organize annually until his death in 1985.

National Veterans Award created

Jan 1, 1954

The National Veterans Award was also created in 1954, adding a new form of recognition to accompany the renamed holiday honoring America's veterans.

Congress amends bill replacing 'Armistice' with 'Veterans'

Jun 1, 1954

Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing the word 'Armistice' with 'Veterans', and the holiday has been known as Veterans Day since.

President Reagan honors Raymond Weeks at White House

Jan 1, 1982

President Reagan honored Weeks at the White House with the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982 as the driving force for the national holiday, recognizing his pivotal role in establishing Veterans Day.

Death of Raymond Weeks

Jan 1, 1985

Raymond Weeks, who had championed the creation of Veterans Day and led national celebrations annually since 1947, died in 1985, leaving behind a lasting legacy of honoring all American veterans.

Establishment of the Holiday

President Eisenhower signs Veterans Day bill into law

May 26, 1954

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, also from Kansas, signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954, officially establishing the national observance that would become Veterans Day.

Holiday moved to fourth Monday of October under Uniform Monday Holiday Act

Oct 25, 1971 - Oct 24, 1977

Although originally scheduled for celebration on November 11 of every year, starting in 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October, observed on October 25, 1971; October 23, 1972; October 22, 1973; October 28, 1974; October 27, 1975; October 25, 1976, and October 24, 1977.

Observance returned to November 11

Nov 11, 1978

In 1978, Veterans Day was moved back to its original celebration on November 11, restoring the historic date tied to the end of World War I.

Modern Observance

SHRM poll finds 21 percent of employers plan to observe holiday

Jan 1, 2010

A Society for Human Resource Management poll in 2010 found that only 21 percent of employers planned to observe the holiday in 2011, highlighting the varied ways modern workplaces recognize Veterans Day.

Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day observed as 96-hour liberty period

Nov 10, 2011 - Nov 11, 2011

As Veterans Day and the birthday of the United States Marine Corps (November 10, 1775) are only one day apart, that branch of the Armed Forces customarily observes both occasions as a 96-hour liberty period.

Key Facts

  1. Veterans Day traces its origins to November 11, 1918, when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany ended fighting in World War I on the 'eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.'
  2. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day in 1919 to honor those who served in World War I.
  3. Congress made Armistice Day a legal federal holiday in 1938, dedicated to world peace and honoring WWI veterans.
  4. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans of all wars.
  5. From 1971 to 1977, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, but public confusion and tradition led Congress to restore its original November 11 date starting in 1978.

Source

This History of Veterans Day timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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