If you've ever wondered, here's the reason Veterans Day is always 11/11.
Veterans Day is always observed on November 11 because it commemorates the end of fighting in World War I.
The armistice (ceasefire) between the Allies and Germany took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month: 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. That moment became known as Armistice Day and was first used to honor those who served in World War I.
A brief timeline:
- 1918: World War I fighting ends with the armistice on November 11.
- 1919: President Woodrow Wilson proclaims November 11 as the first Armistice Day.
- 1938: Armistice Day becomes a federal holiday in the United States.
- 1954: After World War II and the Korean War, Congress changes the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. military veterans.
Interestingly, from 1971 to 1977, Veterans Day was temporarily moved to a Monday under a federal law designed to create more three-day weekends. Many veterans' groups disliked the change because it broke the historic connection to November 11. As a result, Congress restored the observance to November 11 beginning in 1978.
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
- Veterans Day (Nov. 11): Honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May): Honors those who died in military service.
So the reason Veterans Day is always on November 11 is to preserve the historic significance of the moment World War I ended: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. - Copilot