Veterans Day was originally created to mark the end of World War I and to honor those who served in that war, with a special focus on promoting peace.

Quick Scoop

  • The holiday began as Armistice Day, commemorating the armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918, at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”
  • In 1938, the U.S. made November 11 a legal holiday “dedicated to the cause of world peace” and set aside primarily to honor World War I veterans.
  • After World War II and the Korean War, the purpose was broadened in 1954 from honoring only WWI veterans to honoring all American veterans of all wars, and the name was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Original Reason in One Line

The original reason for celebrating Veterans Day (then called Armistice Day) was to remember the end of World War I and honor those who served in that conflict, while dedicating the day to peace.

TL;DR: Veterans Day started as Armistice Day after World War I to commemorate the armistice and honor WWI veterans, with an emphasis on world peace; it later expanded to honor all U.S. veterans.

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