when did veterans day begin

Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. It became an official U.S. federal holiday honoring all veterans in 1954.

Origins as Armistice Day

Armistice Day began on November 11, 1919, marking the first anniversary of the World War I armistice signed in 1918. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1938, dedicated to world peace and World War I veterans.

Name Change to Veterans Day

After World War II and the Korean War, the focus expanded beyond one war. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation renaming it Veterans Day to honor all U.S. military veterans.

Key Milestones

• 1918 : Armistice ends WWI fighting on November 11.

• 1919 : First U.S. observance of Armistice Day.

• 1938 : Becomes federal holiday.

• 1947 : Local "Veterans Day" event in Birmingham, Alabama, pushes for broader recognition.

• 1954 : Official rename to Veterans Day.

• 1975 : Returns to November 11 after a brief shift to Mondays.

Modern Observance

Today, observed annually on November 11, it celebrates living veterans' service and sacrifices across all conflicts, with parades, ceremonies, and moments of silence at 11 a.m.

TL;DR : Veterans Day began as Armistice Day in 1919 and was renamed in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.