A History of Veteran's Day

A History of Veteran's Day
Published: 10 Nov, 2012
1 min read

Veteran's Day is a day that we may know mostly as a Federal Holiday but what is the true history of Veteran's Day. November 11, 1918 is known as the end of the "war to end all wars" and President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first tribute to Armistice Day.

"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 has 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…".

-President Woodrow Wilson

Originally, the day observed suspension of business beginning at 11am, and included parades and public meetings. The ratification of the Uniform Holiday Bill, which was signed on June 28th, 1968, outlined a three day weekend for Federal employees.  The Uniform Holiday Bill enabled government employees to celebrate four national holidays on Monday,  including Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Washington's Birthday, and Memorial Day. The logic behind this was aimed at allotting time for people to travel and enjoy activities outside of work, though surprisingly many states did not agree with this.

The first Veteran's day was celebrated on October 25, 1971. Currently Veteran's Day is observed on November 11, regardless of the weekday. This national holiday is observed to honor America's veterans for their love of this country and patriotism. Veterans make the utmost of sacrifices so we can enjoy the freedoms bestowed upon us through the constitution. This being said, attend or watch a veteran's parade on television. It is also highly encouraged to thank veterans for their service, as the sentiment goes a long way.

You Might Also Like

New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
Using verified California voter file data, IVP surveyed high-propensity voters from February 13 through 20. The poll tested first-choice ballot preferences alongside issue intensity on affordability and the cost of living, immigration enforcement, more choice reform, and more....
23 Feb, 2026
-
10 min read
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups. ...
23 Feb, 2026
-
13 min read
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
The overlap between committee assignments and stock ownership is not automatically illegal. Because the current legal framework permits this proximity as long as disclosure rules are followed, lawmakers are not operating under a system that forces change....
20 Feb, 2026
-
4 min read