Salute to Our Soldiers: The History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day is on Nov. 11 and is about giving thanks to those who have served.

It was first established in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson and called Armistice Day, created to remember “the heroism of those who died in the country’s service.” Congress declared Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the legislation that changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.

Let’s take a look at the timeline, which documents significant military operations, legislation and other historic events impacting veterans in the United States.

1919 President Woodrow Wilson declares Nov. 11 Armistice Day to remember “the heroism of those who died in the country’s service”

1938 Congress makes Nov. 11, Armistice Day, a federal holiday

1968 Congress passes a law that moves Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October, effective in 1971. It also makes Memorial Day the last Monday in May

1975 Congress passes legislation to move Veterans Day back to Nov. 11, after 46 states continued to observe the holiday in November

1976 U.S. service academies admit first female cadets

1978 Veterans Day observance returns to Nov. 11

1994 Military adopts 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy regarding service by gays and lesbians

1994 Department of Defense prohibits women from serving in combat

2010 Department of the Navy reverses policy and allows women to serve on submarines

2011 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy officially ends on Sept. 20

2015 U.S. Military announces it is opening all combat positions to women

2016 Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West becomes the first Black woman promoted to three-star army general. She was also the army’s first Black surgeon general

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2020, 18.5 million men and women were veterans, accounting for about 7% of the civilian non-institutional population age 18 and over. Of all veterans, 1 in 10 were women. In August 2020, 4.7 million veterans, or 26% of the total, had a service-connected disability.

The Cook Children’s Veterans Group's (CCVG) objective is to increase awareness and recognition for veteran and military families across Cook Children's by hosting recognition events, organizing volunteer activities, and partnering with Talent Management to increase Cook Children’s attractiveness as an employer of choice for veterans. The CCVG will be participating at this year’s Tarrant County Veterans Day Parade and they will have the JROTC from Trimble Tech High School for the raising of the colors in front of the medical center. If you have any questions please reach out the CCVG chair, Kimberly Johnson and CCVG co-chair, Sherry Foster.

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