Honoring Veterans

Retired Master Sgt. Hap Engelkamp salutes the colors, presented by the Bellevue East Junior ROTC, as they make their way down Mission Avenue in Offutt, Neb., as part of the Nebraska Veterans Day Parade last year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)

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Photo essay: Honoring veterans

Published Nov. 11, 2009

SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- This day in November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, the day World War I ended. In 1938, Congress voted to make Nov. 11 a legal holiday in every state.

After American forces had mobilized for World War II and fought in Korea, the original act was amended to change "armistice" for "veterans." On June 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower approved public legislation to allow Nov. 11 as the day Americans honor veterans of all wars.

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Honoring Veterans

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