On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or a truce, was formed between Germany and the Allied nations, and the first Armistice Day was celebrated on November 11, 1919 to honor those who served in World War I. After World War II, it became “Veterans Day” to honor all American veterans, wherever and whenever they served.
There are approximately 19 million veterans in the US, representing just under 10 percent of the adult population, with Gulf War-era veterans accounting for the largest share of US veterans, followed by those who served in Vietnam. The Veterans Day Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery each year on November 11.
