So, since you've obviously heard this story a billion times before-I'll do my outmost best to make this interesting for you.
At the end of World War I, which was Nov. 11, 1918, Armistice Day was set as a U.S. legal holiday. It was to honor the end of the War of the Worlds. None of the other countries did this because... well I don't know. Maybe they just didn't care. Or they didn't win and thus felt that their veterans didn't deserve it. Who knows. Really, I guess we didn't need to do it either. Cause, really? We have to set aside a day to honor our own veterans? No one can do this everyday? But whatever... I suppose it gives them formal recognition.
Again, its actual really really real meaning was to honor the end of World War 1. I had to look at that one. To celebrate the ending of WW1. Why? I don't know. It wasn't to say 'Thank you, soldiers, for fighting for us' it was more like 'Thank God this war is OVER!'. And then it somehow it was twisted to honor only WW1 veterans.
It was in 1954, after the Korean War and the World War 2 (not necessarily in that order), that the veterans service organizations pushed to have the word 'Armistice' cut out have the word 'Veterans' instead. It earned approval of the legislation on June 1, 1954.
And thus, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Until 1968.
The Uniforms Holiday Bill, ensured three-day weekends for any federal employee on the four national holidays on Mondays-Washington's B-day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Because of this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. But no one liked that idea, so everyone boycotted it and celebrated it on November 11th. Which caused a lot of confusion for the government.
Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11.
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