Origins & History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11th, is a time to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The history of this significant day reflects the nation's deep respect and gratitude for its veterans. As part of our continued commitment to honoring veterans, consider exploring our Veterans Day collection featuring commemorative flags and patriotic decorations.
The Roots of Veterans Day
The origins of Veterans Day trace back to the end of World War I. Major hostilities ceased when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. This momentous event led to the establishment of Armistice Day, commemorating the end of "The Great War."
For those looking to honor their service members from past conflicts, we offer a Korean War Veterans Commemorative Flag and a Vietnam War Veterans Commemorative Flag.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first Armistice Day, honoring those who served in World War I and celebrating the restoration of peace.
The day was marked by parades, public gatherings, and a brief suspension of business activities at 11:00 a.m.. In 1926, the Congress of the United States passed a resolution to request the President to observe Armistice Day on the 11th of November with US flag celebrations.
However, it was not until 1939 that public holiday was declared on Armistice Day. An act that was approved in May, 1938 made November 11th of every year a legal holiday. It was a day that was officially dedicated to world peace, and all government buildings were expected to display
Evolution into Veterans Day
Interestingly, it was a shoe shop owner who turned Armistice Day into Veterans Day. Following World War II and the Korean War, there was a growing recognition that the day should honor all veterans, not just those who served in World War I.
In 1953, Al King suggested that Armistice Day should be replaced by All Veterans Day. He approached the Emporia Chamber of Commerce to seek support for his cause. Most Emporia merchants campaigned for this change, and they were joined by members of the Board of Education.
Eventually, a bill was put forward to the Congress by US Representative Ed Rees, who also happened to be a member of Emporia.
In May of 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower made the bill into a law, and in November of the same year, Armistice Day was officially replaced by Veterans Day (learn more about the holiday here!). From 1971 to 1978, Veterans Day was rescheduled to be celebrated on the fourth Monday of every October, but it was reverted to its original date of celebration, which is the 11th of November, in the year 1978.
Interested in learning more about how Veterans Day has evolved over the years? Learn more about the history of Veterans Day here.
Date Changes and Observance
In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was enacted, aiming to provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays. As a result, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October. However, this change led to confusion and dissent, as November 11th held historical and patriotic significance.
Recognizing this sentiment, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law in 1975 that returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, effective in 1978.
Veterans Day Throughout The World
Veterans Day is also celebrated in other parts of the world, where it is known as either Remembrance Day or Armistice Day.
In many of the Allied Nations, Veterans Day is considered a public holiday. In France, it is celebrated as Armistice Day, and in it is called the Polish Independence Day. People in celebrate the day as the Day of Peace in the Flanders Fields, and the Commonwealth countries observe the day as Remembrance Day. The only exception is Italy, which celebrates the day on the 4th of November instead of the 11th of November.
Honoring Veterans Today in the United States
Today, Veterans Day is a federal holiday dedicated to honoring all American veterans, both living and deceased, who have served honorably during war or peacetime. Communities across the nation commemorate the day with ceremonies, parades, and moments of reflection, paying tribute to the sacrifices and contributions of our military personnel. Our Veterans Day Combo Pack provides an easy way to display your appreciation.
It's important to distinguish Veterans Day from Memorial Day. While both honor military personnel, Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, specifically commemorates those who have died in service to their country. In contrast, Veterans Day honors all who have served.
Important updates regarding presidential proclamations for half-staff observances can be found on our Presidential Half-Staff Proclamations page.
Honor Your Veterans
For people in the US, Veterans Day is a time to hoist the American flag to show gratitude to the war veterans who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the well-being of the nation. There are many ways to celebrate Veterans Day both publicly and privately, with the focus being on displaying gratitude for the war veterans who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the well-being of the nation.
As we decorate and observe Veterans Day here at Gettysburg Flag, we express our profound gratitude to those who have worn the nation's uniform the only way we know how! By flying our American Made flags every chance we can! For additional ways to honor and celebrate, visit our Days of Honor page, where we highlight significant days dedicated to our nation's heroes.