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Barbara Sipos’ “Keeping In Touch” Newsletter November 2006
A Brief History of
Veterans Day – November 11th
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier
was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site,
on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the
city of Washington, became the focal point of
reverence for America’s veterans.
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and
France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each
nation’s highest place of honor (in England,
Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de
Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11th, giving universal recognition to
the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 am, November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th
day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It
became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been
realized that World War I was “the War to end all Wars,” November 11th might still be called Armistice
Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and
one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than
292,000 in battle.
Realizing that peace was equally preserved by veterans of WW II and Korea, Congress was requested
to make this day an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President
Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day.
On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and
interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the
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