The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington Cemetery.  This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America's veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminister Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe).  These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated end of World War 1 fighting at 11 a.m. November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th month).  The day know as "Armistice Day".

Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution.  It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action.  If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War 1 was "The War to end all Wars"' November 11th might still be called Armistice Day.  But only 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.

An answer to the question of how to pay tribute to those who had served in this latest, great war cam in a proposal made by Representative, Edwin K. Rees of Kansas: Change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, and make it an occasion to honor those who served America in all wars.  In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day.

On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I.  One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War.  In 1973, a law passed providing interment of am unknown American from the Vietnam War, but non was found for several years.  In 1984, un unknown serviceman from that conflict was placed alongside the others.  To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.

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

Thank you, Ron Childress and Gary Sox, Sr. (Local 909 Veterans) for your article.