What was Veterans Day originally called in the United States?

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day in the United States.

The original name referred to the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany that ended World War I hostilities on November 11, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation marking the first Armistice Day in 1919, describing the occasion as a time for national reflection and gratitude.

Congress made Armistice Day a legal holiday in 1938. After World War II and the Korean War, however, many Americans believed the holiday should recognize veterans of every U.S. war rather than focus only on World War I. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation changing the name to Veterans Day in 1954.

The word “armistice” means a temporary suspension of fighting, not necessarily a final peace treaty. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, formally settled the war with Germany. Veterans Day therefore marks the ceasefire’s anniversary while honoring a much broader group of former service members.