The very first observance called “Veterans Day” in the United States took place on November 11, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Quick Scoop

  • The holiday’s roots go back to Armistice Day , first observed on November 11, 1919, to mark the first anniversary of the World War I armistice.
  • In 1947 , World War II veteran Raymond Weeks organized a “National Veterans Day” event in Birmingham, Alabama, considered the first celebration using the term “Veterans Day.”
  • In 1954 , the U.S. government officially changed the federal holiday’s name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, keeping the date of November 11.

In short: Armistice Day began in 1919, but the first event actually called “Veterans Day” was held on November 11, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama, before the name became the official federal holiday title in 1954.

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