What is Armistice Day?

Lina Nissley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

An armistice is an agreement made between two warring parties to cease fighting. While not a complete white flag of peace and the possibility of continuing war is not erased, an armistice is a step made towards attempting to negotiate peace.
On November 11, 1918, a truce was signed between the allies of World War 1 and Germany. The purpose of the truce was to end the fighting that was taking place along the entirety of the western front. The truce, which was signed inside a railroad car parked near the front lines in Compiègne, France, took effect on the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. After four years and 106 days, World War 1 had come to an end.
As a result of that truce, the first Armistice Day was celebrated in the United States on November 11, 1919.
At 11 a.m. in the morning, the same time fighting had agreed to cease a year earlier, many businesses temporarily suspended shopping and work for two minutes.
Armistice Day was commonly celebrated with parades and public gatherings, which were held to commemorate the anniversary of the armistice. Eventually, the day was used as an occasion to honor unknown fallen soldiers. In 1938, November 11 became a national holiday meant to honor veterans of World War 1.
In 1954, after a national campaign had ensued to have the day honor all veterans (not just those of World War I), President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The day now commemorates American veterans of all wars, living or deceased, whereas Memorial Day honors those who died in service.
In 1971, a law went into effect to change the date of Veterans day from November 11 to the fourth Monday in October. This was an unpopular change, and due to the historical significance of the day being held on November 11, the day was switched back in 1975 by President Gerald Ford.
The people who live in the allied countries who fought in World War 1, which includes Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada, all commemorate the significance of November 11.
Canada, Australia and Great Britain refer to the holiday as “Remembrance Day.”
In Canada, many celebrating citizens wear red poppy flowers as a symbol to honor their fallen veterans. Great Britain commemorates their Remembrance Day on the second Sunday of November.
In the United States, once known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day is an occasion to commemorate all veterans and take the opportunity to thank them for their service.