Every November 11, we thank the people who served in the U.S. military. The date goes back to the morning the fighting stopped in World War I. It took decades for the United States to turn that anniversary into the Veterans Day we know today.
If a veteran comes to mind when you hear the date, take a minute to write down what you remember about their service. I’d begin with a name, a place, or a detail someone remembers clearly. The history of the holiday gives us a reason to start that conversation.
Why November 11?
The armistice took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, ending the fighting on the Western Front. The following year, Germany and the Allied powers signed the peace treaty. The date stuck because people remembered the hour when the guns fell silent.
President Woodrow Wilson marked the first anniversary in 1919. Congress called for an annual observance in 1926. Later, in 1938, Congress made November 11 a federal holiday called Armistice Day. Its early observances honored the people who served in World War I and reflected hopes for lasting peace.
The same anniversary is observed in other countries. Canada marks Remembrance Day on November 11. In the United Kingdom, November 11 is Armistice Day, and Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November. If you find those names in a family letter or newspaper, they point back to the same armistice, though each country has its own traditions.
Why Arlington Marks the Day
On November 11, 1921, the United States buried an unidentified American soldier from World War I at Arlington National Cemetery. The burial took place three years after the armistice. Today, the national Veterans Day observance includes a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater. If you’ve seen a photo of the wreath-laying, the date connects that ceremony to both the armistice and the 1921 burial.
How Armistice Day Became Veterans Day
After World War II, people began calling for a holiday that honored veterans of every era. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran from Alabama, organized a parade and other events in Birmingham on November 11, 1947, to recognize all veterans. Over time, local events like that one helped broaden the meaning of the day.
U.S. Representative Edward H. Rees of Kansas proposed the legislation that renamed the holiday. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it on June 1, 1954. That October he issued the first Veterans Day proclamation, calling on Americans to observe the holiday on November 11. By then, Americans had also served in World War II and the Korean War. The new name made room to honor veterans from those conflicts, earlier wars, and peacetime service.
Why the Date Moved and Came Back
Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968. It moved several federal holidays to Mondays, including Veterans Day, which shifted to the fourth Monday in October. As a result, the first federal observance under the new law fell on October 25, 1971. Some states continued to observe November 11, so the date on a local program or newspaper clipping can depend on where it was printed.
Eventually, Congress restored November 11. President Gerald Ford signed the law in 1975, and the change took effect in 1978. Veterans Day now falls on November 11 every year. When it lands on a weekend, federal offices generally observe the holiday on the adjacent weekday. School and business schedules vary by community and employer.
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
Veterans Day honors people who served in the U.S. military in wartime or peacetime. Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, remembers those who died in military service. A Veterans Day ceremony may also remember the dead, but it is especially a chance to thank living veterans.
If you’re writing about the holiday in a family history or labeling a photo from a parade, the official spelling is Veterans Day, with no apostrophe.
How to Research a Veteran in Your Family
I’d start by asking relatives what they remember about the person’s branch, unit, or years of service. Then I’d look at family photographs, letters, and discharge papers. For example, a return address on a letter may give you a unit or a post. A date written on the back of a photograph can help place someone there. Write down who identified the person and when, especially if the photo itself is unmarked.
A draft registration card can give you a birth date, address, employer, or the name of someone who would know where to find the registrant. It records registration for the draft. For evidence of military service, look for an enlistment record, a discharge document, or another record that identifies the person as serving. Compare details such as the full name, date of birth, and hometown before attaching a record to someone in your tree.
Where to Look for Military Service Records
The National Archives explains how to request military service records and who can access them. Before you make a request, gather the name the veteran used in service, the branch, and whatever you know about the dates. The 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center destroyed millions of Army and Air Force personnel files. If a file was lost, ask the Archives about alternate records. You can also look for a hometown newspaper notice about an enlistment, a promotion, or a return from service. Each source may tell you a different part of the story.
If your relative is still living and wants to talk, you might ask what they remember about their first assignment, who they stayed in touch with, or what coming home was like. Let them decide what they want to share. A few details in their own words can add something to the family history that a service record alone can’t give you.
Say your family remembers that a great-uncle served in the Army during World War II, and you find a draft card for a man with his name. I’d check the birth date and address against a census record or another family document first. Then I’d search the local paper around the time he may have left for training. In that case, a short item that names his parents and reports where he was sent would give me a stronger link to the family and a new place to look.
Books to Read With Your Family
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans
Authored by Barbara E. Walsh, this book tells the inspiring story of Moina Belle Michael, who helped make the red poppy a symbol of remembrance.
Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood
Written by Valerie Pfundstein, this children’s book introduces young readers to the veterans living among them, highlighting their contributions and sacrifices.
By Margot Theis Raven, this poignant story explains the significance of the white table set in honor of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war.
What Is Veterans Day? (I Like Holidays!)
Elaine Landau provides a comprehensive overview of Veterans Day, its history, and how it’s celebrated, suitable for young readers.
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Authored by Jeff Gottesfeld, this book offers a moving tribute to the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, emphasizing honor and dedication.
Learn More
History of Veterans Day from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Day facts and information from the VA
Eisenhower’s 1954 Veterans Day proclamation
Request military service records from the National Archives
The 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire
