Veterans Day has its origins in the end of World War I. On November 11, 1918, early in the morning, the cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Germany was agreed, although the measure only came into effect at eleven o’clock. That moment was interpreted as the end of the war on all fronts, although it did not mean the formal German surrender, which would be signed months later with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Since then, it has been a very important date for the entire world, and it is commemorated in a great way, especially in those countries that directly participated in the war.
A year later, US President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day, a day meant to remember the sacrifice of those who fought and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to peace. Over time, multiple acts of tribute were consolidated, such as the burial of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. This symbolic act sought to honor all the combatants whose bodies were never identified.
In 1938, Armistice Day officially became a national holiday in the United States. However, after the Second World War, the dimension of the conflict and the number of people who had served led to rethinking the meaning of the commemoration.. It was then that the concept of recognizing not only the fallen, but all veterans began to spread, regardless of the war in which they had participated.
In 1954, Congress approved changing the name of the date to “Veterans Day”, thus establishing a day dedicated to thanking the service of those who have been part of the Armed Forces. For a time, the celebration was moved to the fourth Monday in October due to a law that sought to unify the holidays, but that modification was socially rejected and, in 1978, the holiday returned to its original date: November 11.
Currently, the most representative ceremony is held in Arlington. At eleven in the morning, a joint guard from the different military branches pays honors at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The president of the United States places a wreath and a moment of silence is observed. Then the tributes to the veterans continue in other spaces of the cemetery and in different cities of the country.
Veterans Day today is an occasion to reflect on the role of the military in national history, recognize their service and remember the human costs of warwithout focusing solely on a specific battle or conflict, but on those who have dedicated part of their lives to serving.
