Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to broaden the holiday from honoring just World War I veterans to recognizing all American veterans of every war. This change was prompted by lobbying from veteran organizations after World War II and the Korean War, and it was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Key points to understand:
- Origin: Armistice Day began in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I and was primarily associated with WWI veterans. This reflects its initial narrow focus on the war ending in 1918.
- Broadening those honored: By the 1940s, the experience and memory of veterans from World War II and later conflicts led veteran groups to push for a holiday that honored all veterans, not only those who served in WWI. This pressure culminated in legislation to rename the holiday.
- Formal name change: In 1954, Congress amended the 1938 Armistice Day law by replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and President Eisenhower issued a proclamation supporting the new designation. Since then, November 11 has been observed as Veterans Day to honor all veterans of all wars.
If you’d like, I can pull a concise citation-ready line or compare how different sources describe the timeline and law involved.