Published: November 5, 2019
A Brief History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In 1938, through an act of Congress, November 11 was made a legal holiday.
In 1954, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill was signed, ensuring three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on their original dates. With much confusion, the first Veterans Day under the new law was observed on Oct. 25, 1971.
On September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.
Related Publications
68 Stat. 168 - An Act to honor veterans on the 11th day of November of each year, a day dedicated to world peace
89 Stat. 479 - An act to redesignate November 11 of each year as Veterans Day and to make such day a legal public holiday
H.R. 5212 (ENR) - Veterans' Oral History Project Act
Did you know that the Government Publishing Office's online bookstore offers a collection of publications produced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provides guidance and information to America's veteran armed forces personnel? Check out the site for numerous publications including Federal Benefits For Veterans, Dependents and Survivors 2019