Veterans Day: Why We Pause on November 11
The story behind the holiday, from the guns falling silent in 1918 to the day America set aside to thank every man and woman who has worn the uniform.
Every year on November 11, communities across the country gather at parades, memorials, schools, and kitchen tables to say two simple words to the veterans in their lives: thank you. Veterans Day is one of the few holidays tied to a specific moment in history, and knowing where it came from makes the day even more meaningful.
Below, we look at why we celebrate, how a World War I ceasefire became a day honoring all veterans, the people who shaped it, and a few simple ways to take part this year.
Why We Celebrate Veterans Day
Unlike Memorial Day, which centers on those who died in service, Veterans Day honors all who served honorably, in wartime or peacetime. The VA notes the day is largely intended to thank living veterans and to recognize that everyone who served, not only those who died, has sacrificed and done their duty (VA, Veterans Day Facts).
That makes it a day of gratitude as much as remembrance: for the neighbor who served four years in the Navy, the grandparent who served in Korea or Vietnam, and the young service member who just came home.
A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (History of Veterans Day)The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day
World War I, known then as “The Great War,” officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. But the fighting had stopped seven months earlier, when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars” (VA).
One year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The original idea was a day of parades, public gatherings, and a brief pause in business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
“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…”
President Woodrow Wilson, November 1919 (via VA)
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
The holiday took nearly 60 years to settle into the form we know today. Here are the milestones, drawn from the VA’s official Veterans Day timeline.
The Guns Fall Silent
The armistice ending World War I fighting takes effect at 11 a.m.
The First Armistice Day
President Wilson proclaims November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
The Unknown Soldier Comes Home
On Armistice Day, an unidentified American soldier from World War I is laid to rest in the new Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington National Cemetery).
Congress Recognizes the Day
A concurrent resolution asks the President to call for flags on government buildings and observances in schools and churches. By then, 27 state legislatures had already made November 11 a legal holiday.
A Legal Holiday
An Act of Congress makes November 11 a legal holiday “dedicated to the cause of world peace,” known as Armistice Day and primarily honoring World War I veterans.
“National Veterans Day” in Birmingham
World War II veteran Raymond Weeks organizes the first celebration using the name Veterans Day, honoring veterans of all wars (VA, The Origins of Veterans Day).
Armistice Becomes Veterans
After World War II and Korea, Congress strikes the word “Armistice” and inserts “Veterans.” November 11 becomes a day to honor American veterans of all wars. That October, President Eisenhower issues the first Veterans Day Proclamation.
The Monday Holiday Experiment
The Uniform Holiday Bill moves Veterans Day to a Monday to create three-day weekends. The first observance under the new law, on October 25, 1971, is marked by “much confusion,” and many states keep the original date.
Back to November 11
Recognizing the date’s historic and patriotic importance, President Gerald Ford signs a law in 1975 returning Veterans Day to November 11, beginning in 1978. It has been observed on that date ever since, whatever the day of the week.
Raymond Weeks, the “Father of Veterans Day”
Armistice Day honored World War I veterans, but after World War II, a Navy veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, named Raymond Weeks believed the country should honor veterans of all wars. In 1946 he led a delegation to Washington to ask then-Army Chief of Staff General Dwight Eisenhower to support the idea (National Veterans Day).
Birmingham held the first “National Veterans Day” on November 11, 1947, with a parade and other festivities (VA). Representative Edward Rees of Kansas later proposed legislation renaming Armistice Day as Veterans Day (VA News).
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan awarded Weeks the Presidential Citizens Medal, calling him the “driving force” behind the holiday. Weeks led Birmingham’s celebration until his death in 1985 (National Veterans Day).
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Few places capture the spirit of November 11 like Arlington National Cemetery. After Great Britain and France each buried an unknown World War I soldier on Armistice Day in 1920, the United States followed. On November 11, 1921, an unidentified American soldier was carried by horse-drawn caisson through Washington and laid to rest at Arlington, while Americans nationwide observed two minutes of silence. President Warren G. Harding placed the Medal of Honor on the casket (Arlington National Cemetery).
Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984 (U.S. Army). Today, the Veterans Day National Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery each November 11 (VA Teachers Guide).
Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
Both holidays honor those who have worn the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they serve different purposes (VA News).
Veterans Day
- Honors all who served honorably, living and deceased
- Wartime or peacetime service
- Largely a day to thank living veterans
- More a celebration than a somber remembrance
Memorial Day
- Remembers those who died in service
- Especially those who died in battle or from battle wounds
- Began as Decoration Day after the Civil War
- National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time
Simple Ways to Honor Veterans This Year
Say Thank You
A sincere thank-you to a neighbor, coworker, or family member who served goes a long way.
Attend a Ceremony
Join a local parade or ceremony, or watch the national ceremony from Arlington.
Fly the Flag
Display the American flag at your home to show your community’s gratitude.
Listen to Their Stories
Ask a veteran about their service, if they wish to share, and really listen.
Teach the History
Share the story of the eleventh hour with children and grandchildren.
Support Year-Round
Volunteer with or donate to a veterans organization long after November 11.
Under the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act, signed in 2016, the President calls on Americans to observe a two-minute national moment of silence on Veterans Day, at 2:11 p.m. Eastern (11:11 a.m. Pacific). Wherever you are, consider pausing with the nation (VA News).
Support for Veterans, 24/7
If you are a veteran in crisis, or worried about one, the Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential help: call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Many responders are veterans themselves (VA).
To Every Veteran: Thank You
More than a century after the guns fell silent on the Western Front, November 11 still asks us to stop and remember that our freedoms were secured by people who were willing to serve.
To the veterans and military families who live in, work in, and help lead the communities we serve, thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
— The Blackstone Management Team
