Veterans Day
/A President's Proclamation
On that historic day in 1919, President Wilson, still battling the devastating effects of a stroke he had suffered just weeks earlier, issued a powerful proclamation from his sickbed. Despite his weakened condition, Wilson was determined to ensure that the sacrifices of American servicemen would never be forgotten. His words captured both the solemnity and hope of the moment:
“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…”
The Cost of "The War to End All Wars"
World War I, known then as "The Great War," had exacted an enormous toll on the world. More than 116,000 American soldiers died, and over 200,000 were wounded. The war had fundamentally changed modern warfare with the introduction of tanks, aircraft, chemical weapons, and trench warfare that stretched across the European continent.
When the armistice was signed at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, church bells rang across America and Europe. People poured into the streets to celebrate the end of the devastating conflict. For Wilson, who had reluctantly led America into the war in 1917, the armistice represented not just military victory, but an opportunity to build a lasting peace through his proposed League of Nations.
Honoring the Unknown Soldier
Wilson's commitment to honoring fallen soldiers extended beyond proclamations. In one of his final acts as president, on March 4, 1921, his last day in office, Wilson signed legislation to inter the remains of an Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. This soldier would represent all those who had died in service but whose bodies were never identified or recovered.
The idea of honoring an unknown soldier had originated in Europe, where Britain and France had already established similar memorials. The American Unknown Soldier was selected from among four unidentified servicemen recovered from different battlefields in France. On November 11, 1921, the two-year anniversary of his Armistice Day proclamation, this soldier was laid to rest with full military honors.
Wilson's Final Tribute
Though no longer president, Wilson was determined to attend the ceremony. Now severely disabled by his stroke, the former president joined the procession to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In a characteristic gesture of humility, Wilson refused a place of honor alongside President Warren G. Harding and instead traveled among the other dignitaries in his carriage, viewing himself as simply another American citizen paying respects to the fallen.
Witnesses described the emotional scene as Wilson, frail and leaning heavily on his cane, stood in the cold November air to honor the sacrifice of those who had served. It would be one of his last major public appearances before his death in 1924.
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
For nearly two decades, November 11 was observed informally as Armistice Day across the nation. Finally, on May 13, 1938, Congress passed legislation making November 11 an official federal holiday. The law dedicated Armistice Day to "the cause of world peace" and called for parades, public meetings, and a brief suspension of business activities at 11:00 a.m.
However, after World War II (1941-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953), it became clear that the holiday needed to honor all American veterans, not just those from World War I. Veterans service organizations led the charge to make the holiday more inclusive. On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation officially changing the name from "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day."
The new name reflected a broader mission: to honor all who have served in the U.S. armed forces during wartime and peacetime, in conflicts both declared and undeclared. Unlike Memorial Day, which specifically honors those who died in service, Veterans Day celebrates all American veterans, living and deceased.
Wilson's Enduring Legacy
Today, when we observe Veterans Day each November 11, we continue the tradition that Woodrow Wilson began more than a century ago. His vision of a day dedicated to remembering sacrifice, honoring service, and reflecting on the price of freedom remains as relevant today as it was in 1919.
