History · IN60SECONDS

Why is Veterans Day on November 11?

Because World War I’s fighting stopped at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. The day began as Armistice Day, became Veterans Day in 1954 and, after seven years on a Monday, returned to November 11 in 1978.

Quick Answer

Veterans Day falls on November 11 because that’s when the fighting in World War I stopped: an armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day, with parades and a pause in business at 11 a.m. In 1921, America’s Unknown Soldier from the war was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11. Congress made Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, at the urging of veterans’ groups, Congress renamed it Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars. A 1968 law moved it to a Monday in late October starting in 1971, but many states and veterans objected, and a 1975 law returned it to November 11 beginning in 1978. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served; Memorial Day honors those who died in service.

By the Numbers

11/11 at 11The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918

1938Year Armistice Day became a federal holiday

1954Year Congress renamed it Veterans Day

1978Year it returned to November 11 after seven years on a Monday

Key Facts

Why November 11: World War I’s armistice took effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918
Original name: Armistice Day, a federal holiday since 1938
Renamed: Veterans Day, in 1954, to honor veterans of all wars
Who it honors: Everyone who has served. Memorial Day honors those who died in service

Timeline

Nov. 11, 1918
The armistice ending World War I’s fighting takes effect at 11 a.m.
Nov. 11, 1919
President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day.
Nov. 11, 1921
An unknown American soldier from World War I is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
1938
Congress makes November 11 a federal holiday, Armistice Day.
1954
Congress renames it Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars.
1971
Under a 1968 law, Veterans Day moves to a Monday in late October.
1978
A 1975 law takes effect, returning Veterans Day to November 11.

The 11th hour of the 11th day

The armistice signed on November 11, 1918, stopped the fighting of World War I at 11 a.m. that day. The formal peace treaty came later, but November 11 became the day the world remembered the end of what was then called the Great War.

From Armistice Day to Veterans Day

President Wilson’s first Armistice Day proclamation in 1919 called for parades, public meetings and a brief pause in business at 11 a.m. Congress made the day a federal holiday in 1938. After World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ groups pushed to honor all veterans, and in 1954 Congress replaced the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.”

The Monday experiment

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved several holidays to Mondays to create three-day weekends, including Veterans Day, which moved to late October starting in 1971. Many states kept observing November 11 anyway. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law returning Veterans Day to November 11, starting in 1978.

Myth vs. Fact

MythVeterans Day and Memorial Day are the same holiday.

FactVeterans Day honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces. Memorial Day honors those who died in service.

MythIt’s spelled “Veteran’s Day.”

FactThe official name is Veterans Day, with no apostrophe. The Department of Veterans Affairs explains it’s a day for honoring veterans, not a day that belongs to them.

The Bottom Line

Veterans Day is on November 11 because World War I’s fighting stopped at 11 a.m. that day in 1918. It started as Armistice Day and has honored all American veterans since 1954.