How Veterans Day Came to Be
"Passed, in the House, a bill changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day—in recognition of the fact that the U.S. has gone through two major wars since Nov. 11, 1918."
Thus TIME summed up, in 1954, the creation of a national Veterans Day to be celebrated on Nov. 11 each year. Prior to that decision, the day had been used to commemorate the end of World War I—hence, Armistice Day and its date—but it had quickly become clear to a thankful nation that the veterans of other conflicts deserved the attention just as much.