Veterans Day, Memorial Day are different - By Barbara Beebe, American Legion Post 1700
Veterans Day is the American name for the international Day of Remembrance formally called Armistice Day. World War I ended in June of 1918, but the fighting between the Allies and Germany ended seven months prior with an armistice that went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 -- thus the name of Armistice Day.
In 1919, President Wilson was the first to celebrate Armistice Day, as it was then known, and later Congress passed a resolution in 1926 inviting all Americans to celebrate. In 1938, it was made into a national holiday.
The dates to celebrate have gone through many changes, from October and then finally back to Nov. 11, in 1926. On June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the bill HR 7786 that officially changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.