World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” -
officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in
the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However,
fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation
of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason,
November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all
wars.”
Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay,
Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at
10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World
War I went into effect
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as
the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "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…"
The original concept for the celebration was for a day
observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business
beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of
World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these
words:
Whereas the 11th of
November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and
far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United
States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again
be severed, and
Whereas it is
fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with
thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good
will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the
legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to
be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the
flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and
inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and
churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly
relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May
13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be
dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known
as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to
honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the
greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s
history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd
Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act
of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its
place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation
(Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American
veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which
stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this
anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire
citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am
designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans
Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman
may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning
for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and
agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National
Committee in every way possible."
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