The holiday known as Veterans Day officially acquired its current name on June 1, 1954. On this date, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that amended a 1938 act, changing the holiday's name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
The original holiday, Armistice Day, was established in 1938 as a legal federal holiday dedicated to honoring the veterans of World War I and celebrating the armistice that ended the conflict on November 11, 1918. However, following the extensive mobilization of American forces in World War II and the Korean War, veterans' service organizations advocated for a more inclusive day of remembrance. They campaigned to have Armistice Day expanded to honor American veterans of all wars, not just the First World War.
This name change represented a significant shift in the holiday's purpose. By renaming it Veterans Day, the United States transformed the observance from one commemorating the end of a specific conflict into a broader day of tribute for all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, whether in wartime or peacetime, living or deceased.
