The History of Veteran's Day.
1918 World War I, then referred to as The Great War, ended with the implemention of an armistice, the infamous Treaty of Versailies, between the Allies and
Germany at the elenventh hour of the eleventh of day of November.
1919 November 11th, President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day. The original concept for the celebration was for the suspension of business for a two minute period beginning at 11A.M. with the day also marked by parades and public meetings.
1920 On the 2nd anniversary, France and the United Kingdom hold ceremonies honoring their unknown dead from the war.
1921 Congress passes legislation approving the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. November 11th is chosen for the date. Congress declares November 11, 1921 a Federal holiday to honor all those who participated in the war.
1938 On May 13th, Congress passes a law making November 11th a legal Federal holiday. The United States has no 'actual' national holidays because the states have the right to pick their own holidays. The Federal government can in fact only designate holidays for Federal employees and for the District of Columbia, But usually the states follow the Federal government.
1941-1945 and 1950-1953 World War II and the Korean War create millions of additional war veterans.
1954 On June 1st, President Eisenhower signs a law changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day.
1968 Congress passes the Monday Holiday Law which established the fourth Monday in October as the new date for the observance of Veteran's Day. The law is to take effct in 1971.
1971-1975 The Federal observance of Veteran's Day is held on the fourth Monday of October. Initally states follow suit except Mississippi and South Dakota. Other states changed theie observance back to November 11th as follows: 1972-Louisiana and Wisconsin. 1974-Kentucky, Arkanas, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, Virginia. 1975-California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolins, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming.
1975 Legislation passed to return the Federal observance of Veteran's Day to November 11th, based on popular support throughout the nation. Since the change to the fourth Monday in October, 46 states had either continued to commenorate November 11th or had reverted back to the original date based on popular sentiment. The law was to take effect in 1978.
1978 Veteran's Day observance reverts back to November 11th.