The Significance of November 11th

November 11, 1918 was the end of World War I.

Eighteen years later, November 11, 1936, the cornerstone for St. Louis’ Soldier’s Memorial was laid.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to St. Louis to dedicate the site for the Soldiers Memorial building on October 14, 1936.(Source)

But in 1936, November 11th wasn’t yet a holiday:

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday-a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. (Source)

Word War I seems so long ago, the 100th anniversary is just eight years away.

Thank you to all who have served in our armed forces.

– Steve Patterson