What is Armistice Day called today?
An unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. This location, on a hill overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became a place of pilgrimage for America’s veterans. Earlier, in England and France, an unknown soldier was buried in each country’s highest place of…
An unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in 1921. This location, on a hill overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became a place of pilgrimage for America’s veterans.
Earlier, in England and France, an unknown soldier was buried in each country’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, commemorating the celebrated end of World War I fighting at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day was dubbed “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day was given its current name by a Congressional resolution in 1926. A similar Congressional action 12 years later made it a national holiday. If the idealistic hope that World War I would be “the War to End All Wars” had come true, The 11th of November is still known as Armistice Day. However, war broke out in Europe only a few years after the holiday was declared. Sixteen and a half million Americans participated. Four hundred and seven thousand died in service, with over 292,000 dying in battle.
What is Armistice Day called today?
Today, Armistice Day is known as Veterans Day.