On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918, World War I came to an end. During the Great War, 4.2 million Americans put on the uniform (out of a population of 104 million people). In the trenches and on the high seas, 67, 813 US military members made the ultimate sacrifice while 192,483 soldiers, sailors, and marines were wounded. In honor of the end of the “War to End All Wars,” we, in the United States, celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, 2021. But what is the rest of the story behind Veterans Day?

How Did We Get Veterans Day?

On the first anniversary of the truce between the Allied and Central Powers that ended World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a special message.  Armistice Day 1919 was dedicated to commemorate the heroic soldiers who fought in the war. Later, Congress made November 11 a public holiday “to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'”

Enter Raymond Weeks. Weeks was born in Columbus, Georgia but moved to Birmingham, Alabama during his childhood. During World War II he served in the Navy. When he returned home from that war, Weeks organized a day of festivities on November 11, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama. The event didn’t just celebrate the veterans of World War I, like in years past, but instead celebrated all veterans who had served in the United States armed forces. Weeks was a dynamo — his drive to put the event together became so well known that General Omar Bradley came as the keynote speaker to Birmingham.

With the success in Alabama, Weeks continued to push for a broader, national Veterans Day. He was so dedicated to the idea of a day to celebrate all veterans that he sent petitions and letters to Congress and the President advocating for the national holiday. Weeks finally saw his dreams realized seven years later. On May 26, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law designating November 11 as a day to memorialize veterans who served in the United States military. Just a few days later, on June 1, Congress changed the formal name of the holiday from “Armistice Day” to “Veterans Day.”

Due to Raymond Weeks herculean efforts, the United States now celebrates November 11th as Veterans Day. One person can make a difference.

Conclusion

Today, take a moment to celebrate the men and women who have served in our armed services throughout the years as the United States celebrates Veterans Day.