Originally called “Armistice Day”, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 in honor of veterans of all wars. On November 11, 1919 it was first celebrated after the first anniversary of World War 1. In 1926 Congress passed a resolution of observance for the Holiday, then in 1938 Veterans Day became a national holiday. 

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, Congress approved an amendment to the Act of 1938. The new law renamed Nov. 11 Veterans Day and established it as a national holiday in the United States. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday from ‘Armistice Day’ to ‘Veterans Day’. 

In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Monday Act ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.