World War I veterans were the original focus of the U.S. holiday that became Veterans Day.
The observance began as Armistice Day, commemorating the armistice that ended major fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918. Early ceremonies therefore centered on the veterans and sacrifices associated with that conflict.
After World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ organizations and civic leaders argued that the holiday should recognize American veterans of every war. Raymond Weeks’ Birmingham celebration in 1947 was an important early example of this broader approach.
Congress changed the holiday’s name to Veterans Day in 1954. That change separated the holiday’s purpose from a single war and established its modern meaning as a nationwide tribute to all U.S. military veterans.