President Wilson who boasted United States of the war, shocked the country with his request for war. November 11, 1918 was marked the END of the war. A year later, President Wilson proclaimed November 11,1919 as "Armistice Day". It was the FIRST nationwide commemoration of the war.
On November 11,1920, England laid to rest an unknown solider in Westminster Abbey, a way to commemorate their losses in the war. France had carried a siliar act the same year at the Arc de Triomphe.
On November 11, 1921, the United States followed up with the own version of commemorating their soldiers. An unknown soldier, who had already been laid to rest at a cemetery in Europe, was selected and placed aboard a ship to Washington D.C. It was to fill the new "Tomb of the Unknown soldier." This event recieved press coverage from coast to caost. Many people gathered to see the body layin in state in the capitol rotunda. There, a funeral procession was held at Pennsylvania Avenue. Each state sent floral arrangements to adown the tomb. President Harding laid a wreath of flowers on the casket. Taps was played. The caskets were placed into the tomb at 11 a.m.. The President had requested that all flags be flown at half-mast.
This event was performed a year earlier in England and France. It had more of a powerful effect among Americans. That single singleunknown solider not only sympozed in America's losses, but each American's losses and sacrifices in the war.
Through the years, 27 states had responded to that emotional event by adopting laws declaring November 11 as a Legal holiday. The U.S Conress reacted by enacting a resolution on June 2,1926, asking the President to issue a proclaimation to display the nation's colors on all buildings on November 11. The resolution officially named the "Armistice Day".
In October 8, 1947 Raymond Weeks, organized a "Veterans Day" parade in Birminghamm AK. To Celebrate all of America's veterans.
In 1954, Kansas Representative Edwin K. Rees introduced a bill that would change the purpose of Armistice Day to honor veterans of all wars.
On June 1,1954, President Eisenhower signed the bill into law officially renaming armistice day to Veterans Day National Committee.
