Making More Everyday, Honoring Our Veterans, 2005

The waring nations participating in "the war to end all wars" proclaimed a truce, effective November 11, 1918. One year later President Wilson proclaimed November 11 Armistice Day to mark the one year anniversary of the end of hostilities and to honor the veterans who served and sacrificed for their country.

Armistice Day officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926 and, 12 years later, on May 13, 1938, Congress enacted a new law that made Armistice Day a national holiday. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

Historic Significance? There are approximately 24,387,000 vets, 75 percent of them served in wartime. We are making more vets everyday, but apparently none of this holds sufficient significance for some law schools (e.g., mine) to close in observance of the sacrifices made by our veterans.

President's Veterans Day, 2005 Proclamation

Senate Resolution 155 (encouraging all Americans to observe the week of November 6 through November 12, 2005, as National Veterans Awareness Week)