World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” -
officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in
the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.
However,
fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation
of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
For that reason,
November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all
wars.”
Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at
Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was
taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice
ending World War I went into effect.
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed
November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following
words:
"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…"
The original concept for the celebration was for a
day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of
business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the
end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with
these words:
Whereas
the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive,
sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the
people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we
hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas
it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be
commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate
peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas
the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November
11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the
flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and
inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and
churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly
relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a)
approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a
day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated
and known as "Armistice Day."
Armistice Day was primarily a day set
aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had
required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in
the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the
83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the
Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its
place the word "Veterans."
With the approval of this legislation (Public
Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans
of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first
"Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated:
"In order to insure proper
and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans'
organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common
purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans'
Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include
such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the
national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the
heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government
to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
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