Veteran's Day: Remembering those who serve

  • Published
  • By John Lacomia
  • 60h Air Mobility Wing History Office
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Ninety years ago on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany at Rethondes, France. This armistice brought a close to "The Great War" or World War I as it is now referred to. It would take another eight months before the Treaty of Versailles was signed, but November 11 is recognized by many as the day that the war ended. One year later on November 11, 1919 President Woodrow Wilson designated the day as "Armistice Day" and commemorated the 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 had 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 ..."

Wilson's words to America were followed by parades of surviving soldiers marching in their home towns. Speeches were given by veterans and politicians at ceremonies giving thanks to the peace that had been won. It was a hope by many in the world, that "The Great War" was "the war to end all wars," but as we all know it was not.

It would take another seven years before the United States Congress officially recognized the end of The Great War and passed a concurrent resolution on June 6, 1926 directing the President to issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. During the 1920s and 30s, states established November 11 as a legal holiday, but it was not until May 13, 1938, that Congress passed legislation making that date a legal Federal holiday, Armistice Day. A day to celebrate peace and honor the veterans of the Great War was now a legal holiday.

The significance of this day began to change as the nations of the world entered into another global war, where millions of men and women were killed. For the United States, it was the nation's greatest mobilization of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. This was also followed America's involvement in a war in Korea from 1950 through 1953.

One year after the Korean War, Congress introduced a bill from a Kansas congressman to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. On June 1, 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed Public Law 380 making November 11th "Veterans Day" to honor American veterans of all wars.

Though President Eisenhower established "Veterans Day" as November 11th, many states continued to celebrate the day in-conjunction with a weekend. It was not until September 20, 1975, that President Gerald Ford signed a law that returned the observance of Veterans Day to November 11th, which started in 1978.

With the numerous changes that Veteran's Day have seen in the last 90 years, the term "Veteran" has also been redefined. If you have served in the Armed Forces honorably, during peacetime or during wartime, than you have earned the title of veteran.