The holiday wasn’t officially called Veterans Day until 1954.
During World War I, the fighting ended on Nov. 11, 1918 when an armistice went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Nearly twenty years later, legislation passed on May 13, 1938, officially making Nov. 11 of each year a federal holiday, originally known as “Armistice Day,” the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains on its website.
The holiday was first created to honor veterans of World War I, but then in 1954, the original legislation was amended to change the holiday’s name to Veterans Day, to honor American veterans of all wars.
How is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day?
In the United States, Memorial Day‘s purpose is to honor military members who have died, while Veterans Day recognizes the service of all America’s veterans.
In 2025, Memorial Day was observed Monday, May 26. Veterans Day will be observed Nov. 11.
