History of Veteran’s Day Published Nov. 7, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace 436th AW Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- World War I ended with the implementation of an armistice between the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November, 1918. The following year, on the anniversary to the end of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day. "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 ...," said President Wilson. Originally, the concept was business would be suspended for two minutes beginning at 11 a.m., with parades and public meetings also highlighting the day. Time marched on and the meaning of the day also elaborated. In 1921, Congress passes legislation approving the establishment of a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and named Nov. 11 as the day for the unveiling ceremony. In 1938, congress passed legislation and Nov. 11 was declared a Federal Holiday and officially named Armistice Day - a day to honor all those who fought in the war. Through the 1940s and into the early '50s, millions of Americans joined the ranks of the U.S. Military Services and served in Europe and Asia during World War II and the Korean War. After the wars were over, America was left with millions of veterans, which prompted President Dwight D. Eisenhower to sign legislation, which changed the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day. Between 1968 and 1975, many states changed the observance of Veteran's Day to the fourth Monday in October, but others kept the date Nov. 11. In 1975, due to popular opinion, congress passed legislation returning the observance to Nov. 11, effective Nov. 11, 1978 - the 60th anniversary of WWI's end. (Information from www.army.mil and www1.va.gov was used in this story.)