2011 Veterans Day History On November 1919, President Woodrow
Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of
Armistice Day. "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice
Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who
died in the country's service and with gratitude for the
victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us
and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her
sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the
nations..." Wilson said. Originally the day was going to be
observed with parades and public meetings as well as a brief
suspension of business beginning at 11 am. Years after World War
I ended, Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved on
May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal
holiday - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and
to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."
Originally Armistice Day was set aside to honor veterans of
World War I, but after World War II in 1954