Armistice Day is the anniversary of the peace document that ended the four years of conflict of World War I. The armistice was signed in the Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That day began with laying down of arms, and there was unprecedented rejoicing around the world, leading to many impromptu parades and closing of places of business.

World War I was idealistically believed to be the "war to end all wars," but only two decades would pass before this was proven to be untrue. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part in World War II. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle. An answer to the question of how to pay tribute to those who had served in World War II came in a proposal made by Representative Edwin K. Rees of Kansas: Change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, and make it an occasion to honor those who have served America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

President Woodrow Wilson's Armistice Day proclamation set the tone for future observances:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation.