World War I—known at the time as “The Great War”—officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. It was changed to Veteran’s Day in 1938.
Veteran’s Day is a day to honor all who have served in the armed forces, and here at the Post, we thank the veterans from all eras for their service. We urge each of you to tell a veteran “thank you” today.
Since the late 1990s, the Post has highlighted within its pages each year those Veterans that have served in the armed forces during our most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please download link below to see our current list.